The Trump administration - like previous administrations - has pushed for European purchasesof U.S. weapons before, including at this year’s Munich Security Conference. Some of the sources consider the recent messages from Washington as a continuation of U.S. policy.
Still, several sources said the U.S. emphasis on the matter has intensified in recent weeks as the EU has moved more decisively to decouple its weapons procurement.
“They are upset about ReArm proposal and that the U.S. is excluded,” said one senior European source.
Let me get the smallest violin to play the saddest little song for them.