US may withdraw troops from Baltic states at Putin's request – FT

The possible agreements between US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin could have worrying consequences not only for Ukraine but also for all of Europe. The US could withdraw NATO troops and leave it vulnerable to the Russian military, writes Financial Times international relations columnist Gideon Rahman.

The author believes that the speech of US Vice President J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference convinced him that "America itself is now a threat to Europe." He said that Vance, in his speech, "undermined the ideas of freedom, democracy, and common values ​​that have underpinned the Western alliance for 80 years."

“In his world, the battle for freedom in Europe is no longer about containing an autocratic and aggressive Russia, as it was for Harry Truman or Ronald Reagan. Vance’s fight for freedom is a fight to save “Western civilization,” as defined by Elon Musk and others, from the twin threats of mass immigration and the “virus of the awakened mind,” the author of the publication noted.

The journalist also concluded that the Trump administration's ideology has "more affinity with Putin than with Volodymyr Zelensky."

“Putin is seen as a warrior fighting for his country and conservative values; the Ukrainian is seen as a freeloader with all the bad friends in Europe,” the columnist writes.

Rahman is confident that Trump intends to reach an agreement with Putin on Ukraine “through the heads of Zelensky and the Europeans,” and sees this as “tragic consequences for Ukraine, which may soon be asked to agree to the loss of territory without guarantees of future security.” At the same time, this has worrying consequences for the rest of Europe. After all, “Trump will most likely agree to withdraw US troops from the Baltics and perhaps further west, leaving the EU vulnerable to the Russian army, which NATO governments warn is preparing for a larger conflict outside Ukraine.”

The journalist claims that the US is now not just not a "reliable ally of Europeans," but can even be considered an adversary, as it threatens democracy in Europe, in particular, as in the case of Greenland.

Therefore, Rahman suggests that Europeans "begin to quickly prepare for the day when US security guarantees for Europe are finally revoked."

"This should include the development of an autonomous defense industry. It should also mean a European mutual defense pact outside NATO, which goes beyond the EU - including the UK, Norway and others," he stressed.