The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, traveled to Washington this week, the third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, to meet with senators and congressmen to discuss the war and relations between the US and Europe, which are particularly strained. However, the main purpose of the trip was to meet with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, something that the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy took for granted on Monday. The reality, however, is that the Trump administration has rejected this meeting citing "scheduling issues," although, if the scheduled events are checked, only one appears: the first meeting of the new US president's Cabinet.
This is, therefore, a very significant meeting. But just one, making the refusal to meet seem like a snub from the Trump administration to Europe. Another one, following the disregard shown by the mogul towards the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Also, after not involving the European Union in the peace negotiations the US is holding with Russia. Or even amidst a trade war and the incessant verbal attacks by the US president on Europe.
"I love countries, all countries [European] but let's be honest... The European Union was created to screw the United States. That's its purpose," stated the American president after his first Cabinet meeting, emphasizing his worldview that implies the EU is not a partner, an ally, a friend, but something specifically designed to harm and take advantage of his country. Therefore, very high tariffs would be necessary, up to 25% for all products, especially cars.
"The High Representative and Vice President, Kaja Kallas, is visiting Washington on February 26 and 27. She will meet with US senators and congressmen to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine and transatlantic relations. She will meet with the staff of the EU delegation in the United States. She will also participate in a public event at the Hudson Institute," the European Commission reported on Wednesday. "The High Representative will not meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on this occasion due to scheduling issues. The last time they met was during the Munich Security Conference," added community sources in a neutral tone. However, there is discontent in Brussels.
In addition to all the aforementioned, it should be noted that Rubio did meet on Tuesday with the Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid bin Salman. And on the same day, the Secretary of State spoke with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al Sudani, about Iranian influence in the region, the need for Iraq to be energy independent, and US business investments. "Both agreed on the need for Iraq to be energy independent, to quickly reopen the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline," Reuters reported.
Meetings and topics to be discussed that are undoubtedly relevant, perhaps not as much as the relationship between two of the world's major powers. Consequently, new evidence that good relations with Europe are not at all a priority for the Trump administration.
Rubio and Kallas spoke on the phone a few weeks ago and met in Munich, at the conference where Vice President J.D. Vance attacked the EU and caused a stir. There, she defended what she has always defended, which poses a problem for the Trump administration in general, and for Rubio in particular.
The Secretary of State immediately chose to ignore the invitation from Kallas to join the video conference of the 27 Foreign Ministers in Brussels as soon as he took office. Something his predecessor, Antony Blinken, regularly did since the invasion of Ukraine, at the request of Josep Borrell. The US is distancing itself from Europe in general, but last week the entire American trade team welcomed Vice President Maros Sefcovic without issues, even though the topic, tariffs, was quite delicate.
However, Kallas is a problem because Russia hates her and has her in its sights. A year ago, in fact, when she was the Prime Minister of Estonia, she initiated a criminal case. The Kremlin accused Kallas, the Estonian Secretary of State, Taimar Peterkop, and the Lithuanian Minister of Culture, Simonas Kairys, of destroying or damaging Soviet monuments in memory of fallen soldiers. She was included in the wanted list by the Ministry of the Interior. This makes her presence in Washington very uncomfortable for Moscow and for the country that now wants to negotiate not only peace in Ukraine with them but also the reestablishment of relations.
Rubio, a former senator, has always been critical of Russia for the war, unlike Trump or Vance. He knows his position is less solid, so he does not want to upset his bosses either, choosing to snub his European counterpart rather than compromise his position. Or the negotiations with Moscow, if she had taken the opportunity to criticize Washington's direction.