All quiet on the eastern flank? Nato leaders fear they can no longer rely on US help if Russia attacks

The Guardian ^ | June 27, 2026 | Shaun Walker

[MinorityRepublican]

A nightmare scenario has been playing on eastern European minds with increasing intensity since Donald Trump returned to the White House: what if Russia attacks and the US does not join the fight?

On the rare occasions the question is posed out loud, nobody much likes the answer. In mid-May, at a gathering in Tallinn, the US undersecretary of state Thomas DiNanno was asked directly whether American troops would fight if Russia invaded the Baltic states. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, then gave a meandering answer. It did not include the word “yes”.

Politicians from the region usually try to sidestep the issue in public, claiming Washington’s commitment to Nato allies remains strong, and the alarming rhetoric from the Trump administration should not be taken to heart. “We shouldn’t pour fuel on the fire” is a mantra that was repeated in interviews by ministers from several countries on the eastern flank, where proximity to Russia infuses security debates with extra intensity.

Others admit that things are fraught between Europe and the US, but say a break in relations is out of the question, because the security gaps if the Americans absconded would be unbridgeable. Dovilė Šakalienė, a former Lithuanian defence minister, compared the relationship to “a dysfunctional family where divorce is not an option”.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

NATO/EU is broke.

They war is CPR for their economies.

[BradyLS]

Well, they ain’t gonna beg for it. We know that.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

I believe the Euroweenies need to go completely, 100% solar energy. That way, Russia will attack at night, and put the Euroweenies out of their misery.

[mbrfl]

Sounds about right, considering we were unable to rely on them for help with Iran.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

The Guardian

[OrangeHoof]

The Guardian

Yep. What if this? What if that? By the time Putin attacks, there may be nothing left in Europe worth defending. Bunch of spineless pussies.

[Nextrush]

The Euros are taking money from their welfare programs to spend on national defense as ordered by Donald J. Trump who demanded they spend more on defense up to 5 percent of GDP.

They need to scare their own people to justify this massive shift in money.

So drum up the Russian attack threat and the US won’t help us themes.

Euro public opinion despises Trump so they use public hatred of the US led by to sell compliance with Trump’s demand they spend more on national defense.

[Steely Tom]

Why should they think they can rely on us?

When have we been able to rely on them? Never.

[philman_36]

It's the welfare state writ large.

Grown dependent on a government instead of being self reliant.

[Celtic Conservative]

Russia is busy blunting the tip of their spear in Ukraine. And not having a lot to show for it. Opening another front would be the dumbest move since Hitler attacking Russia before he had finished off Britain.

CC

[stanne]

Such a shame they didn’t think of that in the time between now and, like, 1049

[stanne]

Such a shame they didn’t think of that in the time between now and, like, 1949, instead of completely taking advantage of the US during all that time

What have they done to contribute?

[Steely Tom]

Maybe they can squeeze a few billion out of Google or Facebook.

Maybe they can pass a big fat fine against Elon Musk, and get him to throw them a few billions.

[Orosius]

Europe will be conquered by Islam long before any Russian invasion could occur.

[Sacajaweau]

The Dems don't want us going to war...Iran and its nukes and missiles and the Hormuz Strait closing is okay with them.

We don't want to be at war...but damn if we'll let Iran have nukes and missiles that reach the USA.

[nathanbedford]

They need to scare their own people to justify this massive shift in money.

Russia has invaded and made war against several countries in the last two decades. Top people in the Kremlin have publicly threatened European nations with nuclear attack. The Russians have intruded drones into several European countries, including Germany, Romania, Poland and Estonia.

So drum up the Russian attack threat and the US won’t help us themes.

Perhaps they believe the US will not live up to its treaty obligations to defend NATO nations simply because Trump has threatened that he will not do so.

Euro public opinion despises Trump so they use public hatred of the US led by to sell compliance with Trump’s demand they spend more on national defense.

Perhaps Europeans despise Trump because he threatened to invade Greenland and has taken every opportunity to disparage Europe and succeeded in generating fear and loathing not just against Donald Trump but also against the nation with whom they had forged perhaps the most successful multilateral defense architecture in history.

We have squandered an alliance with half a billion people who enjoy an economy as great as our own, who are as committed to democracy as we are, and who are undertaking real, substantive steps to defend themselves and support Ukraine.

The result is a likely ignition of a nuclear arms race as Trump has stated that he might not honor the nuclear umbrella if Europe is attacked, thus destroying deterrence and inviting attack, and forcing these countries to get their own nukes. In the process, we lose control of policy and generate a nuclear threat with the colossal hubris of one man that has infected American policy.

[IDFbunny]

Why would a nation of 140 million attack an alliance of 800 million? They are planning a war against Russia, not the other way around. They want to break Russia apart, take the goodies and they now say so themselves. EU say they expect Russia to attack in 4 years time so they are preparing “defenses” against Russia. That is expect a false flag in about 4 years time. EU wants the US to lead the charge.

[Vendome]

As far as I’m concerned they can Kcuf themselves.

They have a total population of some 700,0000,000 and a gdp of $23 trillion.

Russia OTH, has a population of 130 million and a gdp of $2.2 trillion.

Euroweenies can handle russia just fine without us

[Avalon Memories]

Don’t let your fevered anti-Trump nightmares worry you. He will be a true lame duck after the midterms and will leave office just over two years later. Maybe one of your Democrat buddies will win in 2028 and you won’t need to worry about the US continuing to fund European defense through that marvelous one-way pseudo alliance called NATO.