Three weeks after returning to the White House, Donald Trump is set to ramp up pressure on European allies, with three of his top officials—Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth—heading to Europe this week.
Their visits will focus on key geopolitical issues, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while reinforcing Trump’s “America First” agenda.
The visits mark the first high-level US delegations to Europe since Trump’s inauguration on January 20 and are expected to send a strong message regarding his administration’s stance.
European leaders have signaled their willingness to respond firmly to Trump’s policies but are waiting for concrete actions before taking definitive steps.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on European exports, similar to those he placed on Canada, Mexico, and China, and has pushed European nations to increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP—a demand significantly higher than the current NATO benchmark of 2%.
He has also revived discussions about acquiring Greenland, a territory under Denmark’s sovereignty, despite its strong ties to NATO and the European Union.
The diplomatic tour begins with Vice President Vance’s visit to Paris, where he will attend an AI summit hosted by France and India until February 11 and meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.
He will then travel to Germany for the Munich Security Conference (February 14-16), a key gathering of global diplomatic and military leaders.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will join the Munich Conference on February 16, before heading to the Middle East.
His first international trip as Secretary of State was to Central America, signaling the administration’s focus on reshaping global alliances.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will visit two major US military commands in Germany before attending a NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels on February 14.
He will also participate in the Ukraine Contact Group meeting, chaired by the United Kingdom for the first time.
Hegseth will then visit Poland, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, reinforcing Washington’s commitment to its Eastern European allies.
According to the Pentagon, Hegseth will push for higher European defense spending and greater European leadership in supporting Ukraine’s security.
Trump has promised to end what he calls the “massacre” in Ukraine and has assigned former General Keith Kellogg to draft a plan, though no details have been disclosed.
Despite keeping his position on US military aid to Ukraine unclear, Trump has criticized the billions spent under Joe Biden while simultaneously threatening Moscow with tougher sanctions.
As Europe braces for Trump’s next moves, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged EU nations to remain vigilant and act based on their own interests, including in their relations with the new US administration.
Her statement reflects growing concerns in Brussels, Berlin, and Paris about Washington’s shifting priorities under Trump’s leadership.
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