The US attack on Iran reveals the divisions and clashes between the governments of Europe

The president of the European Council, former Portuguese socialist prime minister António Costa, issued a statement. In his position, he speaks on behalf of the 27 governments of the European Union. So you must find the lowest common denominator that all 27 fit into. As the positions are so distantCosta ended up not saying anything.

Its statement on Saturday assured that the European Union “reaffirms its commitment to regional stability and security” and that “ensuring nuclear security and preventing actions that lead to an escalation of tensions and undermining the global non-proliferation regime is of critical importance.”

Costa recalled that Europe has sanctions in force against “the murderous regime” of Iran (that rhetoric was adopted at the European level after the bloody repression of recent months) and that has always sought to resolve the Iranian nuclear program and the ballistic missile program through negotiations. Costa also called on all parties to conduct themselves using the least possible force, to protect civilians and to “fully respect international law.”

Costa’s problem is that speaking on behalf of the 27 in this crisis is impossible for now. The Frenchman Emmanuel Macron took an ambivalent point, which is somewhat similar to the European response. He said that “the start of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran has serious consequences for international peace and security,” that “the ongoing escalation is dangerous for everyone” and that “it must stop.”

Macron also addressed the Iranian regime to remind it of the need to “negotiate in good faith the end of the nuclear program and ballistic” and that “the massacres perpetrated by the Islamic regime disqualify him.”

Many European governments could line up behind that statement from Macron, but not all. Some, like the Spaniard Pedro Sánchez, because they believe that the attack is, due to legal principles, a violation of international law, regardless of how criminal the Iranian regime is. Others because they applaud the bombings because they applaud anything that Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, like the Hungarian Viktor Orban, do.

Sánchez said that Spain “rejects the unilateral military action of the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order. It also rejects the actions of the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard.” But he also adds: “We cannot afford another prolonged and devastating war in the Middle East. We demand immediate de-escalation and full respect for international law. It is time to resume dialogue and reach a lasting political solution for the region.

Germany is going another way. Without making any reference to respect for international law like Sánchez or demanding that the war stop like MacronMerz published a statement justifying the attack with the argument of the repression of the Iranian regime and claiming that the United States had attempted to negotiate in good faith.

The problem with Merz’s statement of support is that it ideally serves those who criticize the selective ambiguity of Europeans in upholding the norms of international law and respect for the United Nations Charter, thereby damaging its global credibility. Something that the European institutions are supposed to care about.

Europe defends a global order of rules, not force. The bloc raised the flag of morality and law when Russia attacked Ukraine. And in light of these international standards, with all the reason in the world. But many of their governments do not do so now, thereby damaging their argument for defending Ukraine. A French diplomat told Clarín this Sunday: “The crimes of others do not justify unilateral acts of aggression, even if they are committed by our traditional friends. The principles we defend must be consistent, or they cease to be principles and become interests.”

This late Sunday there was a meeting (by videoconference) of European foreign ministers. Another statement should come out of that meeting which, so as not to bother anyone, will not say anything substantial. The former European chancellor, the Spanish-Argentine Josep Borrell, said on Saturday: “No democrat is going to cry about the death of the Iranian regime, but that does not justify this illegal attack.”