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CANBERRA, Australia — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued an urgent plea for an immediate halt to the fighting in the Middle East on Tuesday, warning that the escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has reached a “critical” threshold for global stability.
Speaking from Canberra alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, von der Leyen’s remarks represent the European Union’s strongest push yet for a ceasefire. The visit, originally intended to discuss trade and security in the Indo-Pacific, was quickly overshadowed by the deteriorating situation in the Persian Gulf.
“Knock-on Effects” on the Global Economy
The Commission President highlighted the severe economic toll the war is taking on European citizens and businesses. With the Strait of Hormuz facing a de facto blockade and Iranian strikes targeting regional energy infrastructure, global oil and gas prices have remained at near-record highs.
“We all feel the knock-on effects on gas and oil prices on our businesses and our societies,” von der Leyen stated. “It is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated, and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East.”
A Policy of “De-escalation and Restraint”
The call for an immediate halt follows a joint statement issued by the 27 EU leaders in Brussels last week, which demanded a moratorium on strikes against water and energy facilities. While the U.S. administration has moved toward a “five-day pause” to test negotiations, von der Leyen is pushing for a more permanent diplomatic framework.
Key pillars of the EU’s current stance include:
- Freedom of Navigation: An urgent demand for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- Protection of Infrastructure: A total cessation of attacks on civilian power grids and desalination plants.
- Negotiated Transition: Support for a “credible transition” in Iran that includes a halt to nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The Refugee Shadow
Beyond energy, Brussels is increasingly preoccupied with the humanitarian fallout. Von der Leyen noted that while massive migration flows toward Europe have not yet materialized, the EU must be “prepared to avoid a situation like that of 2015,” referring to the Syrian refugee crisis.
The EU has already dispatched 40 tons of humanitarian supplies to Lebanon and pledged €100 million in aid as Israeli operations against Hezbollah continue to displace hundreds of thousands.
Strategic Divergence
The EU’s plea highlights a growing strategic rift with Washington. While President Trump has pressured European allies to join a “maritime coalition” to secure shipping lanes by force, leaders in France, Germany, and Spain have remained hesitant.
“We can and will commit ourselves only when the weapons fall silent,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently noted, echoing the sentiment that Europe will not be “blackmailed” into an active combat role. For von der Leyen, the priority remains a negotiated exit before the “structural” damage to the global economy becomes irreversible.
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