On March 19, in a joint statement on the Middle East situation, EU leaders only stopped at calling for increased presence of warships in Somalia and the Red Sea.
Notably, Europe has rejected the proposal to expand the scope of maritime missions to the Strait of Hormuz - a strategic hotspot that is being blockaded. Experts have discovered this caution shows the rift within Western allies, as the EU is trying to avoid being deeply drawn into direct confrontation in the conflict in Iran.
EU leaders also issued a message requesting the parties to exercise restraint and establish a "suspension of attacks on energy and water facilities". Despite condemning Iran's attacks, the conference's joint statement remained silent, without making any comments on retaliatory moves from the US and Israel.
The EU affirmed its consistent view that "Iran should never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons". At the same time, the EU also acknowledged Ukraine's efforts in being ready to provide professional assistance in air defense and anti-aircraft drones to US allies in the Gulf region.
In addition to military issues, the Conference is particularly concerned about the risk of a new migration crisis similar to 2015. European leaders are concerned that a wave of refugees from the Middle East could flood into the continent if the conflict continues to escalate. However, instead of the previous open policy, the EU is committed to mobilizing all diplomatic, legal and financial tools to prevent illegal migrant flows right from the border.
Geopolitical observers have discovered that although the current conflict has not created immediate migration flows, member states are in a state of high vigilance. The preparation of response plans shows that the EU is prioritizing protecting intra-bloc stability against the consequences of military policies from external allies.
The shift from military support to border defense reflects a pragmatic EU roadmap to maintain European security and avoid unnecessary political risks from the conflict in Iran.
Europe seems to be choosing a cautious approach, prioritizing humanitarian solutions and protecting maritime security in a narrow scope to protect its core economic interests.
