European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared that Europe can no longer be a custodian for the old-world order and needs a more realistic and interest-driven foreign policy. She stated that the EU would always defend and uphold the rules-based system but in a precarious and chaotic world, that could no longer be relied upon. This admission comes amid scathing critiques from former officials and analysts. A former head of the EU's diplomatic service wrote that Brussels has slipped into a starkly paralyzed role as mere commentator on the geopolitical upheaval on its Southern flank. The EU's former representative to the Palestinian territories wrote that Europe's response to the American and Israeli strikes on Iran has been shameful: stunned, sidelined, and disunited. Analysts at the European Council on Foreign Relations concluded that Europe's collective response has been, at best, a fiasco – and at worst, strategic lunacy. Von der Leyen was ridiculed on Saturday, when the conflict broke out, for saying that an emergency meeting wouldn't take place until Monday, highlighting the bloc's sluggish crisis reaction.
Deep divisions among key EU member states over the conflict and international law have further hampered a unified stance. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has refused to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to our values. In contrast, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was not the time to lecture partners and allies on international law. Merz has given his full-throated backing to the US-Israeli military action which triggered the conflict, branding Iran a terrorist state. French President Emmanuel Macron believes it has breached international law and that Paris cannot approve. Spain has sided with France and even evicted US military aircraft from its bases, sparking a furious US President Donald Trump to threaten to cut off all trade with Madrid. An EU source described France and Germany as completely split, underscoring the fundamental rift at the heart of the bloc.
I refuse to be complicit in something that is bad for the world and that is also contrary to our values.
The EU's diplomatic and humanitarian response efforts have been marked by internal discord and operational gaps. EU officials convened an ad-hoc summit with Middle Eastern leaders in a show of solidarity with the region. EU humanitarian aid for Lebanon is being dispatched to help 130,000 people, after at least half a million were displaced by Israeli bombs and evacuation orders. However, the bloc's top diplomat Kaja Kallas acknowledged that countries had different views about the conflict, stating that the bloc would push for a diplomatic solution to end the war. By yesterday afternoon, no coordinated EU evacuation had been launched to get citizens caught in the region to safety, leaving individual governments to shape their own efforts.
Germany's alignment with the United States has created tensions with Spain, exposing further fractures within the European Union. Friedrich Merz has backed Donald Trump's long-term goals of nuclear and ballistic disarmament and refused to defend Madrid during a visit to Washington on Tuesday. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Madrid expected more solidarity from Berlin. Albares also said former German Chancellors Angela Merkel or Olaf Scholz would have stood up for Spain in Washington. This public airing of grievances illustrates the deteriorating trust between two of the EU's largest member states amid the geopolitical crisis.
It is not the time to lecture partners and allies on international law.
The conflict has reignited the debate over a European army and defence spending commitments. Spain has urged the European Union to move towards creating a separate joint army as a deterrent, particularly amid doubts over U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to Europe's security. However, NATO chief Mark Rutte has dismissed calls for a European army, arguing it would cost member states significantly more than the 5 per cent of gross domestic product that NATO countries – with the exception of Spain – have agreed to spend on defence and related investments by 2035.
Portugal has articulated a clear defence stance centered on NATO and has implemented significant spending increases. Portugal's Defence Minister Nuno Melo stated that Portugal is not in favour of a single European army. Melo said Portugal, a founding NATO member, highly values the United States, describing Washington as a fundamental transatlantic partner. He announced that Portugal increased its defence spending, under NATO criteria, to 6.12 billion euros (2% of GDP) in 2025, four years ahead of the original schedule. In 2024, Portugal's defence spending was around 4.5 billion euros, or 1.58% of GDP. Portugal has applied for 5.8 billion euros in low-cost EU loans to strengthen its armed forces.
Brussels has slipped into a starkly paralyzed role as mere commentator on the geopolitical upheaval on its Southern flank.
Spain has also ramped up its defence spending and taken unilateral military actions. Madrid has indicated it could meet its commitments by spending 2.1 per cent of GDP. Spain also reached its target of 2% of GDP last year, spending 33.5 billion euros - a 44.5% increase from 2024.
The EU has launched defence initiatives and equipment procurement programs to bolster its capabilities. The programme, known as Security Action for Europe (SAFE), is a 150 billion euro EU initiative aimed at reinforcing defence capabilities, closing critical gaps and jointly procuring equipment to counter potential threats to the bloc. The new equipment including frigates, armoured vehicles, satellites and drones was set to be delivered by 2030, if all goes well.
Europe's response to the American and Israeli strikes on Iran has been shameful: stunned, sidelined, and disunited.
US troop presence in Europe and NATO support have become focal points of uncertainty. President Donald Trump discussed with his advisers the option of removing some U.S. troops from Europe. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that allies were initially a bit slow to provide assistance but were now offering substantial support on basing and logistics.
France has undertaken a significant military deployment to demonstrate regional solidarity. France is sending a dozen naval vessels to the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
Europe's collective response has been, at best, a fiasco – and at worst, strategic lunacy.
The EU's internal coordination failures have been starkly exposed by its emergency response mechanisms. An emergency committee, formed during the Brexit and Covid-19 era, did meet – only to conclude it didn't have the powers to advise EU countries on the stance they should take.
Analysts have critiqued the EU's timidity towards the United States as a fundamental weakness. Julien Barnes-Dacey said Europeans are treading around Trump with such timidity, out of fear of antagonising him, that they refuse to come out with a meaningful position on the war.
We are in this European Union with 27 countries… so of course we might have different views.
The bloc would push for a diplomatic solution to end the war.
Iran is a terrorist state.
We're not in favour of a single European army.
Washington is a fundamental transatlantic partner.
Portugal increased its defence spending, under NATO criteria, to 6.12 billion euros (2% of GDP) in 2025, four years ahead of the original schedule.