As in the Gaza crisis, so too in the crisis with Iran, the European Union is watching the events unfold from the sidelines. Both crises largely expose the EU's irrelevance and its inability to influence the course of events, let alone bring them to an end. Among the reasons for this is U.S. President Donald Trump’s distaste for the European Union. Unlike his predecessor, former President Biden, Trump does not see the EU as allies and partners to be consulted or involved. For example, Trump did not even bother to update them on the opening of negotiations with Iran, let alone include them in the talks. After all, the decision whether to activate the “snapback” mechanism this coming October—which would reinstate sanctions on Iran—lies in the hands of the EU’s three major powers: France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Thus, the EU and its member states are left with little more than issuing statements. The common denominator of most of them includes the terms: de-escalation, restraint, and diplomacy as a means to end the conflict. At the same time, the statements emphasize the countries’ opposition to Iran’s development of nuclear weapons. Israel’s right to self-defense is absent from the EU's statements—evidence of a lack of consensus on the controversial issue in the context of international law, a disagreement that did not prevent France, Germany, and the UK from supporting Israel’s right to self-defense. The German Chancellor even went further, expressing support for the military action and praising the IDF and the Israeli government for their courage.
On the subject of potential U.S. military involvement in the war, EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas warned against such involvement, which in her assessment could escalate the conflict and endanger regional stability. In an attempt to prevent U.S. military intervention and its consequences beyond the regional arena, the French President announced that the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the UK intend to meet this coming weekend with the Iranian Foreign Minister, with the aim of ending the war—a move which, according to the German Chancellor, is being coordinated with the United States.
As in the Gaza crisis, so too in the crisis with Iran, the European Union is watching the events unfold from the sidelines. Both crises largely expose the EU's irrelevance and its inability to influence the course of events, let alone bring them to an end. Among the reasons for this is U.S. President Donald Trump’s distaste for the European Union. Unlike his predecessor, former President Biden, Trump does not see the EU as allies and partners to be consulted or involved. For example, Trump did not even bother to update them on the opening of negotiations with Iran, let alone include them in the talks. After all, the decision whether to activate the “snapback” mechanism this coming October—which would reinstate sanctions on Iran—lies in the hands of the EU’s three major powers: France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Thus, the EU and its member states are left with little more than issuing statements. The common denominator of most of them includes the terms: de-escalation, restraint, and diplomacy as a means to end the conflict. At the same time, the statements emphasize the countries’ opposition to Iran’s development of nuclear weapons. Israel’s right to self-defense is absent from the EU's statements—evidence of a lack of consensus on the controversial issue in the context of international law, a disagreement that did not prevent France, Germany, and the UK from supporting Israel’s right to self-defense. The German Chancellor even went further, expressing support for the military action and praising the IDF and the Israeli government for their courage.
On the subject of potential U.S. military involvement in the war, EU Foreign Affairs Chief Kaja Kallas warned against such involvement, which in her assessment could escalate the conflict and endanger regional stability. In an attempt to prevent U.S. military intervention and its consequences beyond the regional arena, the French President announced that the foreign ministers of France, Germany, and the UK intend to meet this coming weekend with the Iranian Foreign Minister, with the aim of ending the war—a move which, according to the German Chancellor, is being coordinated with the United States.