“Trump has fallen off the ladder”: this is how Europe sees the end of the war

German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz, who five weeks ago delayed for a day until he formulated a position on the issue, rushed this morning (Wed) to publish a congratulatory message, in which he stated that “the goal now is to negotiate a sustainable end to the war.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also wrote this morning that this is “a moment of relief for the world”. After Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney paved the way with her visit to the Gulf last weekend, today Starmer is also expected to pay a quick visit to the region. He is expected to visit the British bases stationed in the Gulf countries. The Union’s Foreign Relations Commissioner, Kaya Callas, also welcomed the agreement and said that it was a “step back from the edge of the abyss”.

All European leaders reiterated their position, according to which “the Straits of Hormuz must remain open”, although it is not clear from the cease-fire agreement in the next two weeks whether free movement will be fully resumed or if restrictions will remain on the Iranian side. Much depends on the situation on the ground, and on the decisions of the shipping and transport companies on the subject, it was estimated. Yesterday, Britain again convened a virtual conference of about 40 countries in which a joint demand was expressed to resume free passage in the critical strait, which is responsible for 20% of global oil traffic, 25% of liquefied gas traffic (important for Europe) and 57% of jet fuel traffic, among other things.

The consensus: Trump did not win

The media in Europe, which woke up this morning to the announcement of the ceasefire, were a little less diplomatic. “Trump backs down,” declared the headline of the “Daily Mail” this morning. According to the newspaper’s framing: “The humiliated Trump agreed to a bilateral ceasefire, while Iran will open the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations will take place on a ten-point peace plan.” The conservative “Telegraph”, from the more right side of the political map in the United Kingdom, also announced in its main headline that Trump had to “get off the ladder” about an hour and a half before the end of his ultimatum to “destroy an entire civilization”.

Even the right-wing “Times” expressed criticism today of the moves that led to the current situation. “The US has demonstrated its power but also its inability to anticipate its moves,” reads the commentary at the top of the site. Trump’s threats “were irresponsible and may have far-reaching consequences for the US’s standing in the world,” it said. The US and Israel, wrote in “The Times”, “may have caused damage to one of the worst regimes in the world by eliminating senior officials and harming its military system, but they left in place a series of high-ranking war-mongers, who no doubt harbor thoughts of revenge.”

In the “Guardian” from the left side of the political map, the opinion was more decisive: “The power of the United States has been significantly reduced now after the war,” wrote the newspaper’s commentator, Peter Beaumont. Historian Timothy Snyder is quoted in the commentary, stating that “Trump lost the war in every aspect – moral, legal, political, economic, image and strategic.”

In other European countries as well, the coverage mainly revolved around “Trump’s U-turn”, as the German “Spiegel” defined it this morning. An opinion piece at the top of the site’s home page estimated that the results of the war would be an international strengthening of China and expressed doubts about the ability to prevent Iran from “running to nuclear weapons.” All the European media extensively covered the recovery in the markets: the German DAX index jumped by 5% this morning, the STOXX600 index rose by 4%, the price of a barrel of oil fell by 15%, and the price of European gas also fell by 18%.

The question mark around the agreement

Europe in particular is breathing a sigh of relief due to the economic threat posed to it by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz over time, but the voices expressing fear of the current stage – a negotiation in which it is unclear what Iran’s goals are – are increasing. The Spanish foreign minister, who represents a government that harshly criticized the war and banned the US from flying in its territory as part of it, said that “it is too early to say goodbye” and that negotiations will now be held on the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The Dutch “Telegraph” wrote that the interpretation the Iranians give to the agreement will determine whether it will be a success or not, and that in any case – the problem is now unfolding at the doorstep of Europe and other countries that depend on the export of fossil fuels which passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

In the European “Politico” a European diplomat was quoted as saying to the site that “Tuesday’s TACO (pun on the statement that “Trump always swears”) is better than World War III.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will visit the White House today, and he will be responsible for trying to pick up the pieces after the major crisis that the war in Iran caused the alliance.

The cold shoulder that the European countries turned to the USA on the subject was turned by the American president in recent weeks into a tool to threaten the future of the North Atlantic Alliance. The European media also considered this weakening, which became very clear to Beijing and Moscow, as part of the losses as a result of the war.