Serbian President Suddenly Flies to UAE and Condemns Attacks on the UAE US Former Official: Sending US Troops to Khark Island Would Be a Mistake European MP: Next Oil Crisis Will Cause Devastating Blow to EU Economy

RIA Novosti, Belgrade, March 23 - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic suddenly flew to the UAE on March 22 and met with the president of the UAE, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and condemned the attacks on the UAE.

Vucic wrote on his social media account: "In this difficult and unsettling situation, I expressed the most resolute condemnation of the attack on the UAE. It is important to show support for friends and demonstrate responsibility in seeking peace and stability at a time when the Middle East faces serious challenges, conflicts, and consequences that go far beyond regional borders."

The Serbian president pointed out that this visit was not announced in advance, and the talks lasted several hours.

On March 3, an aircraft carrying the first 200 Serbian citizens evacuated from the UAE arrived in Belgrade, and the evacuation continued afterwards.

On March 1, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had accused some Serbian citizens of ignoring the warnings about the escalation of the situation in the Middle East and going to the UAE.

Vucic called the UAE president, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on February 28 to discuss the escalation of the situation in the Middle East and global security issues, and wished the Middle East region peace as soon as possible.

RIA Novosti, Washington, March 23 - Joe Kent, former director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, believes that sending US troops to Khark Island would be a disaster for the United States because Iran would actually gain hostages.

Previously, Axios reported that President Trump was preparing to seize Iran's Khark Island to pressure Tehran into opening the shipping lanes of the Strait of Hormuz.

In an interview with The Washington Post, he said: "I just think it would be a disaster... This essentially means providing Iran with a group of hostages on the island that they can use drones and missiles to attack."

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously confirmed on March 22 that "all options are under consideration" and did not rule out the possibility of sending US troops to this island in Iran.

Thierry Mariani, a member of the European Parliament from the French right-wing party "National Rally," told RIA Novosti that the next oil shock would be devastating for the EU economy, which has fully experienced the consequences of the Ukraine conflict.

Mariani pointed out: "About 20% of global oil trade goes through the Strait of Hormuz. Any blockade, even partial or temporary, would cause a huge energy shock. Markets realize this and react nervously to every escalation of the situation. For the European economy, which has already fully felt the impact of the Ukraine war, the next oil shock will be devastating."

He said that this would affect inflation and the purchasing power of Europeans.

Mariani added: "Ordinary European citizens are already paying extra fees, and tomorrow they will pay more."

Because the Strait of Hormuz, the key channel for Gulf countries to export oil and liquefied natural gas to the global market, is actually blocked, fuel prices are rising in most countries around the world.

Robert Steger, head of the World Trade Organization's Economic Research and Statistics Department and chief economist, stated on Thursday that if energy prices remain high due to the Middle East conflict, the EU would suffer a greater impact than other regions, leading to a decline in its trade volume and gross domestic product (GDP).

Original: toutiao.com/article/1860424295388236/

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