Afrasianet - The Europeans refused to give in to US President Donald Trump , who wants to see them militarily involved in securing the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe has woken up to say that this is "not our war", but it is nevertheless aware of the risks it will take.
EU leaders met on Thursday in Brussels, and the 27 countries reiterated their desire not to be drawn into a conflict ignited by the United States led by Trump in the Middle East, and therefore did not send any European ships to open the Strait of Hormuz militarily.
The Europeans are now repeating loudly that "this is not our war" because Trump never consulted them or informed them of his intention before bombing Iran, and therefore they refuse to become trapped in a conflict that they are already paying for, whether from rising energy prices or from fear of the influx of refugees, but they are determined to "avoid the mistakes of the past," referring to the experience of Iraq.
In this context, Lunneville Opus magazine asked whether we are in front of a "de Villepin" moment for the European Union. Referring to France's position rejecting the war on Iraq expressed by then-Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, she said it had not yet gone so far as to condemn the conflict that the United States and Israel began on February 28.
However, all major European leaders rejected Trump's desperate calls to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, the global energy trading point that Iran crippled three weeks ago.
Unprecedented isolation
French President Emmanuel Macron said at a meeting of EU Council leaders that "we will not participate in any forced opening of the strait in the context of ongoing military operations and bombardment," showing the United States more isolated than ever, although Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán suggested that his country support a U.S. military operation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump's call for help appears to be an admission of unprecedented weakness, describing him as floundering at the scale of the crisis he has caused, and that after his first year in office he has been characterized by continued aggression and opening up unresolved disputes such as Greenland and trade relations.
French General Michel Yakovlev, in a statement that has gone viral in the United States, likened Trump's invitation to the captain of the Titanic who tried to sell cheap tickets to a dance dinner after hitting the iceberg.
But Europe is not ready to bear the political and strategic cost of a war against Iran, and Kaya Callas, the European Union's foreign minister, has openly expressed skepticism about the Pentagon 's adventurism in Iran.
"Starting a war is like a love story, easy to get into and hard to get out of," she said, adding that "Europe is not involved in this war. We did not ignite it and its political goals are unclear. Not the war of Europe."
But the most harsh in the face of the White House 's strategic mistakes was Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez , who said, "This is a war that the Spanish society and government have condemned from the first moment, we do not support it, we consider it illegal, and unfortunately we are beginning to receive its consequences."
Berlinhas also shied away from Washington's rush, with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius opposing any participation in the U.S.-demanded naval alliance, saying, "What does Trump expect from a few European frigates when the U.S. Navy is strong? It is not our war, and we did not start it."
A way to earn respect
But the harshest refusal for the Trump administration came from London, because the UK, led by Keir Starmer, although no longer a member of the European Union, has also refused to be dragged into war, noting that it is working with its partners on a "viable" plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but that it has "never been and will never be important to NATO."
Trump angrily called London's remarks a "big mistake" and said, "For 40 years we've protected you and you don't want to be involved in something so minor," noting that the U.K. considered Rolls-Royce allies.
"I think NATO is making a very stupid mistake," Trump repeated, stressing that he no longer needs the help of allies, adding, "We don't want to help NATO countries anymore. We don't need it at all," he said, while Japan, Australia and South Korea also rejected his invitations.
As the risk of Houthi involvement in the Bab al-Mandab Strait grows, Europe is seeking to remain vigilant in this other strategic corridor, and "no one wants to actually participate in this war, and everyone is wondering about the outcome of this conflict," Kallas said.
While Trump's resistance, his repeated attacks on international law and multilateralism, and his declared contempt for the European Union are a matter of honor and values, it is also a risk, according to Lotan, because Europeans need the Americans on the Ukrainian file.
Europe is waking up and gaining more autonomy, noting that knowing that saying "no" is also a way to earn respect and perhaps rebalance the unequal transatlantic relationship.
Source: Lopes + Lotan
