Source: Fortune
Summary
European leaders have refused to join the US and Israel’s military campaigns in the Middle East, despite rising oil and gas prices caused by the war. At a summit in Brussels, leaders expressed concerns about the energy crisis and its impact on the global economy. They also discussed the need for energy independence and security, with some calling for a focus on home-grown sustainable energy. The European Union has no “appetite” for expanding its naval force in the Red Sea to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
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The strategy enters a familiar phase.
European leaders are playing it safe, refusing to join the US and Israel’s military campaigns in the Middle East. They’re more concerned about the energy crisis and its impact on the global economy. The EU is looking to wean itself off Russian energy and build up its military spending towards self-sufficiency. Meanwhile, some leaders are calling for a focus on home-grown sustainable energy to reduce dependence on vulnerable fossil fuel markets. The EU’s “no appetite” for expanding its naval force in the Red Sea is a clear signal that they’re not willing to take on more risk.
It’s a case of “energy means security” for the EU, as European Council President Antonio Costa put it.
Author: Evan Null
