Foreign ministers at an emergency meeting: All means available

The foreign ministers of the EU countries discussed the tense situation in the Middle East with the foreign ministers of the countries belonging to the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in their emergency meeting held via video link on Thursday.

After the meeting, the GCC countries issued an exceptionally strong joint statement: They are ready to use all necessary means to defend themselves against Iran’s actions.

The statement criticizes the fact that Iran’s attacks have targeted civilian targets, such as oil facilities, service infrastructure and residential areas. The attacks have caused significant material damage and threatened the safety of civilians.

The ministers referred to Article 51 of the UN Charter, which guarantees states the right to self-defense in the event of an armed attack.

The Gulf Arab states stressed that they have the right to take “all necessary measures” to protect their territories, citizens and stability.

The statement is considered to be clearly stronger than the previous line, as the GCC has condemned Iran’s actions in the past, but in the past it has condemned them mainly in diplomatic and warning terms.

Cooperation is intensified

At the meeting, the EU emphasized the importance of strategic partnership and emphasized that the stability of the Persian Gulf is directly connected to the security of Europe and the entire world.

The EU also thanked the GCC countries for the assistance they have provided to EU citizens in the region.

The foreign minister who represented Finland at the meeting Elina Valtonen (kok) said in its own announcement that “Iran’s arbitrary attacks on the Persian Gulf countries may have unpredictable consequences far into the future.”

According to Valtonen, Iran should stop the attacks immediately.

The foreign ministers also discussed securing sea routes and energy markets, especially in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb areas.

In connection with this, the foreign ministers highlighted the importance of the EU’s maritime defense operations (ASPIDES and ATALANTA).

Both maritime operations have been running since before the war, but their mandate has since been expanded and strengthened due to the tightened security situation in the region.

High representative of EU foreign policy Kaja Kalla said earlier in March that the ASPIDES operation “is being strengthened to improve maritime security”.

ASPIDES is a defensive maritime operation in nature, with permission to use force to combat drone and missile threats, protect merchant ships and secure sea routes, for example.