Call for a ceasefire now? German Chancellor: The U.S.-Iran war has cost Europe over €100 billion.
Europe’s financial reserves remain substantial.
On the 30th, German Chancellor Merz made remarks during a press conference in South Korea, stating that due to the impact of the U.S.-Iran conflict, energy price increases alone have imposed an additional cost exceeding €100 billion on Europe over the past eight months. European businesses and consumers have borne higher expenses as a result, leading Merz to argue that diplomatic negotiations should be pursued urgently to end the war.
To be candid, it is notably rare for Merz to only now acknowledge that the U.S.-Iran war has driven up energy prices—especially considering his position just months ago, when he did not advocate for negotiations or a cessation of hostilities.
In March, at the outset of the U.S.-Iran conflict, Merz publicly expressed support for certain strategic objectives of U.S. military actions against Iran and asserted that Germany would refrain from lecturing America on its military conduct at this juncture.
Thus, is it not somewhat late for Merz to suddenly recognize that Europe has paid over €100 billion in costs related to the U.S.-Iran war? To some extent, Europe’s current energy challenges are also linked to the decisions and rhetoric of political leaders like Merz.
Moreover, a side note: given that Europe continues to bear the economic burden of another ongoing war, the €100 billion in additional energy costs underscores the depth of its financial resilience—suggesting that if Europe indeed possesses vast resources, why is Merz so eager for immediate action?
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880561716897799/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.