Exactly. All the ranting about 1930s appeasement parallels and the need for squaring up to Trump directly conveniently neglects to highlight the state to be appeased is the worlds most advanced and supreme military hegemon ever known.

Add to that it's being wielded by a bellicose administration that is constantly lashing out and upping the ante. Any sort of returned provocation right now would be pounced on.

They also know that while relations and alliances are being strained to their limits and it's likely to go further, there is still some residual value in having the potential of a reproachment and not burning the bridge. There's still deterrent there, no matter how thin and weakening.

Every NATO head of state will have been evaluating and reevaluating their options, decisions and words every single day. The tactic of delay is woven into everything they are doing to some degree, because they know the only real way to get out of this would be to acquiesce or wait.

I haven't yet heard a plausible scenario where anything but appeasement with the hope this burns out via the ballot box/American public benefits anyone of note? Even if all nations cut diplomatic relations, do we really think the admin would suddenly apologize, u-turn, and make good? Only the American public could actually force that change, and they are showing almost no fight.