Foreign Minister participates this Thursday in the second informal EU meeting since the outbreak of the war in the Middle East

Eduardo González EU foreign ministers will hold their second informal videoconference meeting this Thursday since the outbreak of the regional conflict in the Middle East, following the one convened last Sunday by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. According to the Council, the EU foreign ministers will hold an informal videoconference to analyze the situation in Iran and the Middle East in general, in light of the latest developments on the ground. The meeting will begin at 11:00 a.m. The ministerial discussion will be chaired by Kaja Kallas and will include the participation of the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Kuwaiti Jassem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, and other representatives of this body. In the previous informal teleconference meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), held just one day after the start of the US and Israeli offensive against Iran and the Islamic Republic's responses (which have already affected some fifteen countries in the region, including a British military base in Cyprus), Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares warned his European counterparts that the EU's role at this time must be to support de-escalation and diplomacy in the Middle East and defend freedom and basic fundamental rights in Iran. He also stated that the unilateral action of the United States and Israel has no place within the Charter of the United Nations and international law, expressed his condemnation of the brutal and inhumane repression of the Iranian regime against its population, and completely rejected the unjustified and baseless attacks that Iran is carrying out with missiles and drones against countries in the region that are friends of Spain. At the same European Economic Council meeting, European foreign ministers issued a joint statement urging “maximum restraint, the protection of civilians and full respect for international law,” including the “principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international humanitarian law”; they stressed the importance of preventing further escalation of the situation and called on Iran to end its “indiscriminate attacks” and “violations of the sovereignty of several countries in the region.” Germany and France Since that first EU Operational Cooperation Agreement (OCA), the governments of Germany and France, in addition to the United Kingdom, have announced their intention to join the military operation against Iran. Separately, following the impact of an Iranian-made drone on the British military base in Akrotiri, Cyprus confirmed that Greece and France will send military reinforcements, including frigates and fighter jets, to bolster defensive capabilities and guarantee security in the area. Brussels also indicated this Monday that the possible activation of the EU's mutual defense clause will be discussed "in the coming days." However, the European Commission clarified the following day that Cyprus has not requested its activation, as the attack targeted the British base and not the country itself. The mutual defense clause, established in Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty, commits member states to provide assistance if one of them is attacked, although its activation would require a prior legal and political assessment. In response to these reports, Albares reiterated his remarks at the Foreign Affairs Council and insisted that “Europe’s voice must be one of balance and moderation at this time, working towards de-escalation and a return to diplomacy and the negotiating table.” Separately, Albares declined to comment clearly on the “high-level nuclear steering group” proposed this Monday by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to strengthen their cooperation in the area of nuclear deterrence. “There is no offer of a French umbrella to cover all countries,” the minister asserted. In any case, he warned, “our position is clear, and the Prime Minister made it clear in Munich: in military matters, but very clearly in nuclear matters, since we are talking about weapons of mass destruction with no turning back, we are much more in favor of nuclear arms control and reduction than of maintaining an escalation.” On the other hand, Albares will be able to meet (albeit virtually) with his German counterpart, Johann Wadepuhl, to whom he conveyed his “surprise” this Wednesday at Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s lack of reaction when he witnessed, firsthand, US President Donald Trump’s threats to “cut off all trade with Spain” in retaliation for the Pedro Sánchez government’s decision not to allow the use of the Morón and Rota military bases for the offensive against Iran. Both the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the European Commission have expressed their “full solidarity” with Spain and have pledged to protect the “interests of their member states.” Meanwhile, Albares held a telephone conversation on Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. “I conveyed our solidarity with the Turkish government and people following Iran’s missile launch against their country, which we strongly condemn,” he wrote. “Spain reiterates its call for de-escalation in the Middle East and a return to diplomatic negotiations. We demand that all parties respect international law. We are working for peace,” he concluded.

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