European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas at a press confrence following an informal video conference of EU foreign ministers on the situation in the Middle East, in Brussels on June 17, 2025.
Nicolas Tucat / AFP
EU leaders are all over the place on ongoing conflicts, especially in comparison to Donald Trump’s pro-Israel administration.
When the history books are written about events in the Middle East today, what will they say about Europe? Its (especially Brussels-friendly) leaders are all over the place on ongoing conflicts, especially in comparison to Donald Trump’s pro-Israel administration.
They have affirmed that “Israel has a right to defend itself,” but only after being strongarmed into doing so by Washington, having actually wanted a joint G7 statement to be softer on Iran and to ask more of Israel.
The European Commission’s official acceptance that “Iran is the principal source of regional instability”—which is remarkably contested by a not-insignificant number of MEPs—is also somewhat undone by its simultaneous call for restraint from Israel.
And while Germany’s Friedrich Merz praises Israel for doing the “dirty work” for “all of us,” Emmanuel Macron of France warns that “regime change in Iran through military means” would lead to “chaos.”
Yet at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday, June 17th, Kaja Kallas, the bloc’s top diplomat, said there was “clear agreement” on the main priorities regarding the Iran-Israel war, pointing in particular at “the urgent need for de-escalation.”
Iran can not have a nuclear bomb, [but] diplomacy is the best solution to prevent this, and the EU will play its part in these diplomatic efforts.
This is, of course, in total contrast to the Commission’s stance when it comes to the war in Ukraine, where it has long pushed—and is still pushing—Kyiv to continue fighting indefinitely while cutting diplomatic ties with Moscow.
Indeed, despite wanting to go softer on Tehran at the G7, European leaders had reportedly pushed for fresh “strong language” against Russia, but were again cowed into not doing so by Trump’s team, which is conscious of damaging Russia’s ability to negotiate.
The next Foreign Affairs Council will take place in Brussels on June 23rd.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
