EU officials yesterday discovered the US State Department had lowered the diplomatic importance of their ambassador to Washington without any warning. Brussels diplomats only learnt of the stinging rebuke after they noticed their ambassador, David O’Sullivan, had not been invited to a number of high-profile events. The Brussels delegation believes the downgrade must have been implemented by the US President’s administration in late October or early November.
But after protests from EU officials during talks between Brussels and Mr Trump’s administration, Mr O’Sullivan’s diminished diplomatic status was temporarily reinstated, according to the New York Times.
Diplomats in Washington first discovered the demotion from officials behind the organisation of the state funeral for President George H.W. Bush on December 5.
Mr O’Sullivan, who has served as the EU’s ambassador to Washington since 2014, was not called up in the usual chronological order – from longest-serving to newest ambassadors – to pay his respects to President Bush.
He would usually be called up in the first 20 or 30 ambassadors out of more than 150 foreign representatives serving in Washington.
An EU Commission spokeswoman said: “We understand there was a change in the way the diplomatic precedence list is implemented by the United States protocol and we are currently discussing with relevant services in the administration possible implications for the EU delegation in Washington.
“But ultimately this question should be directed to the US administration.”
The US embassy in Brussels is currently in contact with Washington to seek clarification on the revelations.
Brussels is expected to name a new ambassador to Washington soon, but it is unknown what status the senior diplomat will enjoy.
Daniela Schwarzer, director of the German Council on Foreign Relations, said: “The downgrade symbolises the contempt the US president has shown for the EU and its supra-nationalist nature.
“In contrast to previous American administrations, the Trump administration has actively tried to undermine EU unity, on trade policy, for instance, which is a supranational EU competence.”
Ms Schwarzer believes Mr Trump sees weakening the EU as an “opportunity to maximise short-term gains for the US”.
She added the EU diplomatic demotion likely comes because Mr Trump is seeking to undermine the efforts of Brussels to strengthen its global role.
“A lack of recognition by key partners that the EU is more than just an international organisation, or even a withdrawal of that recognition, undermines these efforts,” she said.
The EU was awarded nation state ambassador status in September 2016 after the bloc held lengthy negation with Barack Obama’s administration.
But under Mr Trump, the EU has not enjoyed the same relationship with the US.
Trade tensions between Brussels and Washington erupted when Mr Trump decided to impose tariffs on aluminium and steel.
The US President has also suggested he may trigger similar measures on the European car industry’s exports to the US.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom will hold a round of talks with US counterpart Robert Lighthizer in Washington today.
She will hope to avert any potential trade penalties being imposed of European car manufacturers.
The US Department for Trade is primed to release a report on whether imported motor vehicles should be considered a threat to national security.