The US president has insisted European member states spend more on their own defense

The US has begun to phase out foreign funding programs for NATO countries bordering Russia in an effort to push its European allies to pay for their own security, Financial Times has reported.

Pentagon officials last week told Western European diplomats that Washington will no longer fund programs aimed at training and equipping the militaries of the bloc's eastern member states, the outlet wrote on Thursday, citing anonymous officials.

Moscow has long insisted that it views eastward NATO expansion, and the military buildup of countries on Russia's western border as a security threat.

The funding for the Pentagon program needs to be approved by the US Congress, but the White House has not applied for more money, according to FT. The availability of previously approved funds reportedly ends next September.

Western European diplomats were "startled" by Washington's move, and worried whether their domestic funding could cope with the loss, the outlet wrote. "It's causing a lot of concern and uncertainty," the newspaper cited one diplomat as saying.

The cut corresponds with US President Donald Trump's earlier executive action on realigning foreign aid with his 'America First' doctrine, FT said, citing a White House official.

"This action has been coordinated with European countries in line with the executive order and the president's long-standing emphasis on ensuring Europe takes more responsibility for its own defense," the official reportedly said.

Under pressure from Trump, European NATO states promised to increase military budgets to 5% of GDP earlier this year. EU governments have also announced large-scale military investments, citing an alleged threat posed by Russia.

Moscow has repeatedly brushed off assertions that it intends to attack the US-led military bloc.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has pointed to the military buildup and Western European leaders' increasingly bellicose rhetoric, accusing them of steering towards a direct clash. "They are once again trying to prepare Europe for war - not some hybrid war, but a real war against Russia," he warned in July.

(RT.com)