EU explains why it refused Trump’s request to help with Iran
Photo: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas (flickr.com)
The European Union called on the US and Israel to stop the war with Iran and explained why it refused to assist President Donald Trump during the operation in the Middle East, states the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, Reuters reports
Kallas: It’s time to stop the war
The EU is ready to help diplomatically bring the parties together to end the conflict. Kallas emphasized that the bloc is holding consultations with countries in the region – Jordan, Egypt, and the Gulf states.
"The problem with wars is that it's easier to start than to stop them, and it always gets out of hand," she said.
Several EU countries rejected Trump’s call to join the mission to unblock the Strait of Hormuz – a key route for transporting oil and gas.
Kallas confirmed that European participation in the operation is possible, but it would most likely be diplomatic rather than military.
European leaders explained their refusal by saying they do not want to risk their troops in a war they did not start. Trump, in turn, warned that such a decision could affect NATO unity.
We weren’t consulted
Kallas acknowledged that Europe does not understand some of the US actions under Trump. At the same time, she noted that she has grown accustomed to his unpredictability and responds to it "more calmly."
"The main concern of the European countries is that we were not consulted with (before) starting this war - actually the opposite," Kallas said.
She also added that many European leaders tried to persuade the US and Israel not to start this war.
For context, Trump’s advisors themselves are urging him to find a way out of the war against Iran. However, they admit that there is unlikely to be a quick or easy solution.
Trump himself says that ending the war depends solely on his own will. Regarding the US strikes on Iran, he claims that almost nothing is left.
