Pentagon officials, including its deputy chief Elbridge Colby, have asked several European NATO countries in recent weeks to soften their tone toward Russia, Reuters reported Friday, citing sources. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were among the countries that received the message.

U.S. officials reportedly argued that some statements by European leaders are overly belligerent, unnecessary and do not serve European security.

According to one source, Colby cited suggestions that Russia is “completely cornered” as an example. He did not name a specific source of the remark, but Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal spoke of Vladimir Putin in a similar way in September, Reuters added.

It is unclear whether the message was passed to countries other than the Baltic states, the agency said, citing four sources. None of them suggested, however, that the Pentagon’s position was presented in a confrontational manner.

“We are helping you, the Americans are here, (…) just don’t be loud. Don’t make noise” was reportedly the gist of the private message from officials at the U.S. Defense Department.

The Americans are urging restraint, but according to some European officials, the tone of their statements about Russia is already restrained, the agency added.

The messages from the Pentagon reveal a debate within NATO over how to respond publicly to the threats posed by an increasingly self-confident Russia, Reuters commented.

The agency added that, according to some officials, emphasizing the threat from Moscow actually plays into its hands, because the Kremlin wants to sow fear and thereby weaken support for Ukraine. Opponents of that view stress that European governments must clearly show their citizens the scale of the threat and remind them that deterring Russia requires adequate resources and sacrifices.

According to Western intelligence agencies, Russia has recently stepped up a campaign of sabotage targeting various European countries. Moscow, however, denies responsibility for these actions.

The Pentagon’s request is surprising because in recent months the intelligence services of the Baltic states have not considered very likely a scenario in which “Russia tests NATO’s mutual defense provisions,” one of Reuters’ sources said.

Other services in NATO countries, however, are publicly warning of a sharp increase in the intensity of hostile Russian actions in the near future. (PAP)