Israel Acts, Europe Watches

In mid-June, Israeli forces launched an unprecedented offensive inside Iran, targeting military and nuclear infrastructure in response to Tehran’s persistent aggression, support for proxy warfare, and direct threats to Israeli survival. The strikes—carried out with stealth aircraft and precision drones—hit multiple facilities including IRGC command centers, missile depots, and suspected enrichment sites. The message from Jerusalem was unmistakable: Israeli deterrence is real, and it is not subject to diplomatic permission slips.

The European Union, meanwhile, responded with its usual blend of hesitation and hollow language. Brussels issued ritual appeals for “restraint from all sides,” carefully avoiding any statement that might offend Tehran or show solidarity with Israel. In doing so, it confirmed what many already suspect: the EU has forfeited its claim to geopolitical strength.

Europe’s response to the Israeli strikes inside Iran revealed three fundamental weaknesses that have come to define its foreign policy posture. First, the EU defaulted to its usual script of vague, cautious statements—calling for “restraint” without offering any clear stance or actionable strategy. Second, it was once again paralyzed by internal division, with some member states pushing to affirm Israel’s right to self-defense, while others insisted on language so diluted it rendered the bloc’s position meaningless. Third, and most damning, Europe had no seat at the table. While the United States and regional powers directly shaped the crisis through military action and backchannel diplomacy, the EU offered only distant commentary. In moments that demand relevance, Europe consistently chooses retreat.

Security analyst Claude Moniquet put it bluntly in an interview with Euronews: Europe was “sitting on the sidelines.” While Washington, Jerusalem, and regional actors shaped the unfolding conflict, Europe was not in the room. It was not setting terms, not proposing outcomes, not even leading in diplomacy. It was commenting—at a safe distance, with words crafted to offend no one and protect nothing.