US administration underestimates EU's political institution status, top diplomat says

The US administration has an underestimated view of the European Union as a political institution, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.

She made the remarks on the occasion of an official bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which is yet to take place, Caliber.Az reports via Western media.

“We have both met and spoken plenty over the phone. If you look at EU level, even EU leaders haven't had any high-level meetings, for perhaps the reason that America doesn't hold the EU as an institution in very high regard,” Kallas said.

Moreover, the head of European diplomacy noted that she does not attach much importance to specific bilateral meetings.

“However, I wouldn't focus too much on these individual meetings; a meeting is not an end in itself. It matters when there is something to deal with, something to push forward on. And we have been able to do that with Marco Rubio at the G7 or at NATO, or various other venues where we constantly interact,” she added.

Let's note that a planned high-level meeting between Kallas and Rubio in Washington was canceled due to scheduling conflicts. Despite this, Kallas proceeded with meetings with U.S. lawmakers to discuss the Ukraine conflict and transatlantic relations. She expressed discomfort with recent U.S. positions that seemed to echo Russian narratives, highlighting concerns over potential unilateral agreements between the U.S. and Russia regarding Ukraine without EU involvement. ​

In their first phone call since Trump's return to office, both Kallas and Rubio emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia to achieve a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. They also addressed concerns regarding Iran's destabilizing activities and Syria's political transition. Additionally, Rubio underscored the need for increased European defense spending, aligning with President Trump's call for NATO members to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense, a target currently unmet by any NATO country. ​

By Khagan Isayev