Although European leaders have expressed vigilance about military attacks and sought diplomatic solutions to avoid any war that could spiral in the Middle East and beyond. Security expert Claude Monickett told Euroneus Europe remains “sitting on the bystander.”
This already applies to negotiations taking place between Americans and Iranians. President Donald Trump’s attempt to reach an agreement with Iran was scheduled to halt uranium enrichment and was scheduled to compete in a sixth round of talk in Oman on Sunday.
These talks may now be questionable, but Monickett pointed out that “Europeans were excluded” anyway.
“Europeans are largely excluded from all major diplomatic operations regarding the war in Gaza and the war in Lebanon,” the former French intelligence officer and author said.
European leaders are promoting diplomacy, but it means delivering it
“Diplomatic efforts are important to prevent further escalation,” the European Commission president posted to X on Friday after speaking with Israeli President Isaac Herzog about the escalation situation.
Monickett said the European Union has lost influence in the region and has not spoken about diplomacy for the future of the Middle East.
Europe’s vague support for Israeli attacks meant that, in contrast to the US, the government likely failed to provide details.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s press conference on Friday neatly encapsulated the tightrope walk of strictly conditional support for Israel provided by European leaders.
“We support Israel’s security, and if Israel is attacked, if France is in a position to do so, France will take part in the operation to protect Israel,” Macron said, but made it clear that France will not “participate in the attack operation.”
“We have always supported diplomatic routes (on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile issues), rather than military intervention, so France has not recommended Israeli attacks,” he said.
Macron also tackled the situation in Gaza, “these attacks should not divert us from the need to establish a ceasefire there,” the president added, describing the humanitarian blockade imposed on Palestinian enclaves as “unjust.”
Similarly, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer said on Friday that “now is restrained, calm and a return to diplomacy.”
However, Britain’s failure to inform and support the mission of the attack on Iran before Israel emerged underscores “greater relations between the two countries,” the Times of London reported today.
The diplomat told the newspaper that Israel no longer appears to be considered the UK as a “trusted partner.”
“Military planners within the Ministry of Defense were supported for the strike on Thursday night, but it appears that Britain was cut out of the loop of operations despite being involved in the previous strike,” the paper reported.
Von Der Leyen likewise reiterates the right for Israel to protect itself and protect its people, and at the same time, “it is essential to maintain local stability. I urge all parties to act with the utmost control and strive to remove the situation.”
In contrast, after urging Israel not to attack while working towards a nuclear deal, President Donald Trump told Reuters in a phone interview Friday that he and his team knew the attack was coming and did not ask for a call for restraint.
We are more closely connected with Israel over actions
“We knew everything and tried to save Iran’s humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard.
“We were very close to Israel. We are their number one ally,” Trump told Reuters, adding, “Let’s see what happens.”
Monickett believes that the main reason for the loss of European influence is seen in the decline in European military power. If so, the situation is based on existential questions about the future of security facing Europe and the EU as the elliptical office exploded in February between Ukrainian President Voldy Zelensky and Trump.
Since then, Europe has been working on the need to take more responsibility for its own security and has begun to take over the ship. It also found itself left on the sidelines of Trump’s attempts to mediate a ceasefire between Zelensky and Putin.
However, leaving it on the sidelines can create more risk.
Moniket said Iran could respond by attempting terrorist attacks on the continent.
“They might ask Hezbollah cell or Iranian cell to attack somewhere in Europe, like it was dismantled in London a few weeks ago,” he said.
