Meeting Between EU’s Kallas and U.S. Secretary of State Rubio Canceled Amid Heightened Tensions
A scheduled meeting between Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s chief of foreign policy, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was abruptly called off on Wednesday. The cancellation, attributed to “scheduling issues,” comes at a time when political strains have intensified between the United States and Europe.
Officials from both the EU and the U.S. pointed to scheduling conflicts as the reason for the cancellation, even though the two leaders last convened at the Munich Security Conference in Germany a month ago. However, European representatives expressed surprise at the sudden halt, particularly since Kallas had outlined her intentions to meet with Rubio just days earlier.
Recently, President Donald Trump has caused disruption in U.S.-European relations by promising increased tariffs on imported goods from Europe, aiming to match the tariffs burdening American products. EU representatives have made visits to Washington in attempts to prevent a potential trade war.
Additionally, senior officials within the Trump administration have urged Europe to take charge of its security matters, including issues in Ukraine. The Europeans were also excluded from early dialogues with Russia regarding the termination of the war. In a notable departure, the U.S. deviated from its European allies by distancing itself from blaming Russia for its actions in Ukraine at a United Nations meeting. The U.S. aligned with Moscow in opposing a Ukrainian resolution backed by Europe.
In efforts to repair the strained relations, French President Emmanuel Macron attended a White House meeting with Trump on Monday, seeking American support. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who represents a nation no longer part of the EU yet frequently aligns with the EU on foreign policy matters, is set to visit on Thursday.
Kallas had mentioned earlier in the week that her meeting with Rubio would cover topics mutually significant to both parties, primarily focusing on Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and transatlantic relationships. “The statements from the United States are troubling for all of us,” she told reporters following an EU foreign ministers’ meeting.
She expressed hope for the continuity of the EU-U.S. relationship, stating, “Thus far, we have no indication that it won’t. It’s clear that changes are forthcoming, but we shouldn’t discard a partnership that’s been effective.”
Her office, in a brief text message, redirected queries regarding the last-minute cancellation to the State Department. A senior U.S. official, who wished to remain unnamed, noted that Rubio’s meeting was dropped due to “an unavoidable scheduling conflict,” even though it wasn’t listed on Rubio’s public agenda.
The cancellation occurred shortly after an internal memo from the State Department’s policy planning office instructed officials engaging with European counterparts to emphasize two key concerns: “Freedom of Speech and Free Opposition” and “Migration.” Rubio’s upcoming meeting with Kallas was tentatively referenced in the Feb. 21 memo.
The memo stressed that U.S. diplomats should highlight the Trump administration’s emphasis on free speech when conversing with European officials. It recalled Vice President JD Vance’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference, advocating for the West to “unite around free speech, halt censorship, and oppose the silencing of dissent.”
“The United States is pivoting on migration policy under Trump,” the memo declared. “It’s high time for Europe to do likewise. We wish to sustain our partnership and this requires resolving the current situation.” It remains uncertain whether the straightforward language in the memo influenced the cancellation of the meeting.
Despite the setback with Rubio, Kallas was scheduled to meet with U.S. senators and congressional members to deliberate over the Ukraine conflict and EU-U.S. relations during her two-day visit in Washington. She was also slated to participate in a discussion on these matters at the Hudson Institute.
