EU Officials Adopt Strict Security for US Travels Amid Trust Issues

The European Commission is taking new steps to protect its senior officials traveling to the United States. They are now getting special burner phones and basic laptops for these trips, similar to the precautions reserved for visits to countries like China and Ukraine. This change shows a growing worry about trust between Europe and the US.

Next week, important EU officials, like Valdis Dombrovskis (Economy), Maria Luís Albuquerque (Financial Services), and Jozef Síkela (Development Assistance), will attend meetings for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. However, trust issues are making these talks more complicated.

Why the Change?
Officials are being told not to bring their regular laptops and phones to the US. Instead, they will use simple devices to lower the risk of being spied on. They also need to turn off their phones when crossing the border and keep them in special cases when not in use. While the rules for burner phones aren’t officially written down, they are already being put into practice.

One EU official explained, “They worry about US spies getting into our systems.” This caution for trips to the US is new, as such security measures have mostly been used for visits to countries like China and Russia, where spying is a big concern.

A spokesman for the Commission confirmed that they’ve made these changes, and the EU’s diplomatic team helped update the security measures. They’ve also told officials to use special travel documents instead of regular passports to avoid issues.

Commentary from Experts
Luuk van Middelaar, a geopolitics expert, says this new approach is smart and practical. He believes Washington has become a competitor that might use unfair tactics. He reminded everyone of past spying incidents like the times the US allegedly tapped German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone.

Tensions from Trump Era
These changes come as EU-US relations have grown weaker since Donald Trump became president again in January. Trump has used harsh language against the EU, claiming it is unfair to the US and imposing tariffs that hurt EU exports.

One senior EU official honestly said, “The transatlantic alliance is over,” showing how serious the situation is.

Trade Conflicts and Digital Issues
Despite these tensions, the EU is still trying to solve problems with America. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič plans to meet with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to discuss trade issues.

Tensions are also growing in digital policies, with US officials accusing the EU of overregulating American tech companies. There’s also worry about US border agents being allowed to inspect electronic devices, causing issues for many travelers due to what they find on personal devices.

In one case, a French researcher was sent back from the US for expressing a personal opinion about US research policies. So, the EU is being extra careful with their officials as they travel.