While our region was expecting an active European role in the Iranian nuclear file in Vienna, in order to “rationalize” the American rush, as well as to assume a pivotal task in the process of soothing the crisis in some Arab countries, such as Libya or Lebanon, it became clear to us that the Old Continent is incapable of resolving its own problems.
Europe as a whole is unable to address the Russian-Ukrainian dispute, amid an escalation that suggests that we are facing an upcoming war. Instead, we see the United States issuing statements and warnings, despite the fact that any military confrontation or gas crisis would not concern Washington.
The US administration is intensely managing two dangerous files. In Vienna, Washington is hastening to conclude a deal, at any price, with Iran. In Ukraine, it is acting in a way that suggests that it wants the Russians to get involved there, but without any plan for the “next day” for both crises.
The “next day” is always the dilemma of the United States, whether after the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as during what was known as the Arab Spring in our region, or now in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis… As Washington always stumbles on the details.
We watched how the US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, spoke about the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, as if he were the spokesman for the Russian forces, where he actually caused panic, without giving any clear US commitment to the security of Ukraine. Note that the Pentagon spokesman contradicted most of Mr. Sullivan’s information!
Accordingly, while hopes were pinned on the Europeans to help rationalize American positions, it has become clear that Europe itself is in a crisis, as it is incapable of assuming an effective role in easing the tension.
Moreover, Europe is incapable of acting, even if the crisis developed into a war. Despite the European threat to impose sanctions on Russia, the Old Continent is in dire need of Russian gas, to which it can’t find an alternative at the present moment.
As long as Europe cannot prevent a possible war on its territories, how can it contribute to rationalizing the US position on the Iranian nuclear file in Vienna, or putting an end to Iranian ballistic missiles or drones targeting our region?!
It is certain that the French president is unable to do anything in this regard. We have seen how he was dealt with during his visit to Moscow and his meeting with President Putin. The British are also powerless: the British prime minister is fighting his own party, not even his foes, to stay on the political stage.
Therefore, we are facing a European helplessness and an American rush forward, which means that there is a real international crisis, from which only China will benefit, as the Russians cannot sustain their own military and political ambitions, while the Iranians are facing significant internal challenges. The two countries will try in vain to take advantage of the situation: Iran’s power is subversive, and Russia’s is tactical, but hard to sustain.
Everything suggests that instability will persist. It is now important to think carefully about the power vacuum that awaits us amid the absurd American rush to deal with Iran, or to push Russia into getting involved in Ukraine, as well as to deal with the obvious European helplessness.
