Reference News Network, March 11 report. According to the Spanish "Reasonable News" website, on March 10, a rare rift emerged between the two most influential institutions of the European Union, the EU leaders. On March 10, European Council President Costa delivered a speech at a diplomatic mission meeting, stating, "We are committed to maintaining a world order based on rules and maintaining cooperation." This statement was clearly a response to the previous day's speech by the President of the European Commission, von der Leyen, at the same event.
The statements by the two EU leaders in Brussels reflect that views within the EU are increasingly diverging on how to respond to the changing geopolitical landscape. In a speech focused on defending multilateralism, Costa warned that attacks on Iran are exacerbating instability in the Middle East and accelerating the dangerous transformation of the international system. He asserted that the world is entering a phase where "power politics" is resurging.
Until recently, the two main leaders of the EU had tried to show a certain degree of harmony. After the first round of attacks by the US and Israel against Iran, the European Council and the European Commission issued a joint statement urging "all parties" to fully respect international law. However, over time, the differences in their positions have grown larger. On the 9th, von der Leyen defended the US' strike against Iran.
Meanwhile, Costa took a tone more similar to Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez when opposing the US-Israel actions. Costa recalled the "solidarity" shown by the EU in the face of Trump's threat to annex Greenland, emphasizing the need to "strengthen multilateral cooperation." He believes that the role of the United Nations is irreplaceable because it is "the only platform with universal legitimacy."
This divergence of opinion within Brussels has left an unresolved question: whether the EU can send a unified voice at such a critical moment for global security. (Translated by Wang Meng)
Original source: toutiao.com/article/7615997749414068736/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.