A planned meeting between Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was unexpectedly canceled on Wednesday due to "scheduling issues." This decision comes at a time when political tensions between the United States and Europe are on the rise.
While both sides attributed the cancellation to scheduling conflicts, European officials expressed surprise, particularly since Kallas had outlined her discussion points just two days earlier. The two leaders last met at the Munich Security Conference, making this abrupt change even more noteworthy.
The strain in U.S.-EU relations has intensified following President Donald Trump’s announcement of higher tariffs on European imports, which has unsettled transatlantic relationships. In response, EU officials have been visiting Washington to prevent a potential trade war. Furthermore, the Trump administration has urged European nations to assume greater responsibility for their own security, especially regarding Ukraine, while distancing itself from European allies in attributing blame for Russia’s actions.
To address these issues, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Trump recently, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also set to visit Washington soon. Kallas had intended to discuss vital topics such as Russia's military aggression and the overall state of transatlantic relations, emphasizing the need for collaboration during challenging times.
Although her meeting with Rubio was canceled, Kallas is still scheduled to engage with U.S. senators and congressional members during her trip to Washington, concentrating on the Ukraine conflict and the future of EU-U.S. relations.