Some sources collected by AFP on April 2 showed that European countries are increasingly concerned about NATO's position of power in the future, especially as the European Union (EU) is said to be excluded from Ukrainian peace negotiations - where the US and Russia are actively seeking solutions.
These concerns are further heightened as Washington continues to signal the possibility of transferring forces from Europe, and US President Donald Trump has an approach not entirely similar to Russia and the EU.
Recently, US-Russia relations have shown signs of improvement as the two sides have reached some common views on the situation in Ukraine during meetings between officials of the two countries in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), especially the phone call between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin on March 18.
On March 31, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov affirmed that Russia will continue to work with the US, despite Trump's previous threat to impose tariffs on Russia if Putin does not cooperate in resolving the issue of Ukraine.
Mr. Peskov emphasized that restoring bilateral relations - which were severely damaged under the previous administration - is a top priority when continuing to cooperate with the US side.
AFP said a NATO diplomat acknowledged that the US role in the alliance may decrease in the coming time, but still expressed his hope that Washington would maintain maximum influence.
NATO officials say that if the US really plans to reduce its military presence in Europe, Washington needs to announce a clear schedule for its allies to proactively respond.
Also according to AFP, NATO members in Europe see the US-Russia negotiations as a potential threat to the bloc. However, some countries still hope that Mr. Trump's move is just a tactic to promote an agreement to end the conflict.
However, in the face of the fact that Mr. Trump has repeatedly urged European allies to increase military spending and expressed dissatisfaction with the US's contribution to NATO, a diplomat commented: "The level of optimism is certainly decreasing".
Previously, President Trump had stated that NATO's expansion and the approach to Ukraine by the Joe Biden administration were one of the reasons for the conflict with Russia.
On Moscow's side, Russia has repeatedly condemned NATO's approach to its borders, considering it a threat to national security. Russian officials, including President Putin, have also affirmed that efforts to bring Ukraine into NATO are one of the reasons for escalating tensions in 2022.
