Monthly gatherings were once a staple of Washington’s influence operation in the EU capital. Now that key channel for informal diplomacy has all but disappeared.
By ZOYA SHEFTALOVICHin Brussels
Illustration by Natália Delgado/POLITICO
For years, U.S. ambassadors used intimate dinners to bring together European allies, compare notes and build consensus in Brussels — a tradition that diplomats say has largely disappeared since Donald Trump returned to the White House.
The regular suppers, usually hosted at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in the affluent suburb of Uccle, brought together a carefully curated mix of envoys from EU countries, close partners such as the U.K. or Japan, and senior European officials for off-the-record conversations on trade, security and foreign policy.
