EU Staff Given Burner Devices for U.S. Trips Amid Espionage Concerns

The European Commission is reportedly issuing burner phones and laptops to officials travelling to the United States, a precaution typically reserved for visits to countries like China and Russia, according to the Financial Times.

The move comes ahead of next week’s spring meetings of the World Bank and IMF in Washington, D.C., and reflects growing fears of U.S. cyber-espionage. “They are worried about the U.S. getting into the Commission systems,” one source told the FT.

While it’s not unusual for officials to use clean devices when travelling to surveillance-heavy states, extending this practice to the U.S. signals a sharp decline in trust. One EU official remarked, “The transatlantic alliance is over.”

Tensions have escalated in recent months amid aggressive policies from President Trump’s administration, including trade tariffs, controversial diplomatic behaviour, and immigration crackdowns. Several European countries have updated travel advisories for the U.S., citing detainments and visa issues, with warnings for transgender travellers and academics facing increased scrutiny at the border.

A European Commission spokesperson did not deny the distribution of secure devices but confirmed that travel guidance had been updated for several countries, citing a general rise in cybersecurity threats.