EU warns prolonged Middle East war would harm global stability

2026-03-09 - 11:52

The Middle East has entered a new phase of uncertainty following the escalation that began 10 days ago, Kallas told diplomats, emphasizing that the trajectory of the current crisis remains unpredictable. "The Middle East tends to lose greatly from any drawn-out war, so do we in Europe and so does the world," she said, urging maximum restraint and protection of civilians. The EU foreign policy chief noted that the bloc continues to call on all involved parties to respect international law as the conflict expands across the region. Kallas accuses Iran of fueling regional instability While acknowledging Iran's diminished military capabilities, Kallas placed responsibility on Tehran for decades of violence in the Middle East. "Iran's military capabilities are limited and the regime is weaker than it has ever been before," she stated, though she cautioned that uncertainty persists about how the conflict could develop. The EU has already activated its civil protection mechanism and organized evacuation flights for European citizens in affected areas, while EU naval operations are safeguarding shipping routes through critical waterways. EU activates protective measures as conflict widens Beyond immediate response measures, Kallas indicated the bloc is preparing additional initiatives to strengthen regional security cooperation. The warning comes as the US-Israeli campaign against Iran continues, with Tehran retaliating against Israel and Gulf states hosting American assets. The EU foreign policy chief also drew parallels to other global crises, pointing to Russia's war against Ukraine as another example where international law faces erosion. She stressed that defending international legal norms remains central to European foreign policy, warning that failure could trigger further global instability. International law and global stability at stake Kallas highlighted that the EU has provided €195 billion in support to Ukraine since 2022, making the bloc Kyiv's largest backer. Her remarks underscore European concerns that prolonged Middle East conflict could distract from other crises while potentially drawing in additional actors. For Türkiye, which shares maritime borders with conflict zones and maintains dialogue with all parties, the expanding war poses risks to regional stability, energy security and economic interests as fighting continues to escalate.