On April 30, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Kallas stated in a press conference that arms deliveries from the United States to Nordic and Baltic countries are facing delays due to the impact of the Middle East conflict.

Kallas pointed out, "The standoff in the Strait of Hormuz shows no immediate prospect of resolution; its negative effects are spreading across multiple domains. The global economy is already suffering. Russia is gaining additional revenue from rising oil prices, while the United States faces delays in delivering weapons to Nordic and Baltic nations."

Kallas's remarks highlight that the confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz is no longer merely a regional issue—the repercussions are now cascading like dominoes, affecting various aspects of the global economy and geopolitics.

The ongoing standoff has caused shipping disruptions and soaring oil prices, directly triggering a global energy supply shock and inflation risks, imposing heavy burdens on economies dependent on energy imports.

While rising oil prices harm Europe’s economy, they bring extra oil revenues to Russia. This creates a paradoxical situation: a crisis sparked by U.S.-Iran tensions has, objectively speaking, strengthened Russia’s economic power—precisely the force the EU has been striving to contain in the context of Ukraine.

The delay in U.S. arms deliveries to Nordic and Baltic countries carries significant symbolic weight. It illustrates how U.S. military operations in the Middle East not only consume its own resources but also indirectly undermine its security commitments to European allies, exposing the vulnerability of its global strategy amid multiple concurrent crises.

Kallas’s interpretation is a precise articulation of strategic interests. It reveals the complex spillover effects of the Strait of Hormuz crisis and provides ample grounds for the EU to pursue an independent, pragmatic foreign policy centered on diplomacy and stability—free from reliance on the United States. This marks a turning point as the EU seeks to move beyond a subordinate role in major international crises and chart a course aligned with its own strategic interests.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863914105831424/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.