American media highlights the delicate position of European leaders who are trying, in vain, to distance themselves from the conflict in the Middle East without offending the unpredictable Donald Trump.
Since the beginning of the war in Iran on February 28, European leaders have repeatedly stated their position: “We are not at war,” declared Emmanuel Macron. “We do not want to go to war,” added Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “We do not join the offensive strikes by the Americans and Israelis,” affirmed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Parliament.
The fragility of transatlantic relations forces them to contort themselves to maintain a neutral stance without upsetting Donald Trump, whose sensitivity they know all too well. However, whether they like it or not, Europeans find themselves more and more involved in a war they did not want and were not consulted about, American media observe.
“European leaders remain united in their reluctance towards an operation they never requested,” but in reality, they are “increasingly involved,” writes the New York Times.
Despite their reluctance, Emmanuel Macron, for example, sent the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Middle East and committed to defending Cyprus, an EU member, notes CNN. Giorgia Meloni deployed air defense assets in the Persian Gulf countries targeted by Iranian retaliation.
This Saturday, Italy also announced the deployment of a frigate of its navy to Cyprus “to ensure the security of the European Union’s borders,” in “an act of European solidarity, but mainly prevention,” carefully specified the Italian Prime Minister.
The Boldness of the White House
Because European rhetoric tries to spare the ego of the unpredictable American President as much as possible. The New York Times describes this delicate posture of European leaders, who “on one hand, must protect their citizens trapped in the region, honor defense pacts with Arab states, and in some cases, authorize the United States to use their military bases to avoid the hostility of President Trump.”
“The administration of President Donald Trump spent last year labeling Europeans as pathetic and irreverent, and today […] it wants Europe to praise him,” wrote the Washington Post, highlighting the boldness of the White House.
“Washington did not consult its European allies before the attack and did not ask them to join the bombing of Tehran. But the administration wants access to European air bases and strategic logistic centers to facilitate its air strikes.”
This is particularly the case with Paris, Rome, and London, which eventually yielded to the Republican by allowing US forces to use their military bases, including Fairford and Diego Garcia, to conduct “defensive operations” against Iran. None of the three capitals, however, authorized the US military to conduct strikes from their respective bases.
A balancing act, therefore, that leaders justify by the need to respect NATO’s cooperation framework while avoiding direct participation in the conflict.
An “Impatient and Frustrated” European Public Opinion
Despite their limited influence on the United States and Israel, “Macron and European leaders” have no choice but to express their disagreement, risking tensions with Donald Trump, experts analyze for The New York Times. “Pretending to have no control over the situation will not be well received by the European public opinion. It is already impatient and frustrated,” affirms Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz summarizes quite well the impact of the American-Israeli initiative on Europe: “This plan is not without risk, and we too will have to bear the consequences.”
