It is obviously too early to evaluate seriously the effects of the present Iran war on Europe. It will definitely have different effects, and it is to be feared that these will be predominantly negative – at least in the short run. The question is if a new alliance between the Gulf countries – possibly including Türkiye – and the European Union can grow out of the ashes of this war. One only can hope that this dreadful war will also offer new chances.

Parallel to the diversification, Europe raised its production of energy out of sustainable resources. Nevertheless, the war in Iran and especially the Iranian blockade of the street of Hormuz is an enormous threat for a continuous energy supply, as demand for energy is expected to grow with the duration of the war.

Trump began his second term with the promise that he would end wars rather than start new ones. He had already envisioned winning the Nobel Peace Prize for himself. However, things have changed dramatically. After the relatively ‘soft’ – though still illegal, military intervention in Venezuela he subsequently launched, together with Israel, a full-scale attack on Iran. As Robert Malley and Stephen Wertheim wrote (The New York Times - International Edition - March 7/8): “President Trump’s attack on Iran is astonishing in its audacity, aggression and lawlessness (...) The self-appointed president of peace has turned into an embolden warmaker.” The renaming of the Department of Defense as ‘Department of War’ already signaled the new direction of U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump. And War Secretary Pete Hegseth further underlined this shift in mindset: “The dumb, politically correct wars of the past were the opposite of what we are doing here”. 

Die USA und Israel haben mit „Epic Fury“ neuerlich eine das Völkerrecht klar verletzende Militärintervention gestartet. Führende Köpfe wurden getötet, und nun hoffen Trump und Netanyahu, dass die Bevölkerung aufsteht und das Regime auf den „Misthaufen der Geschichte“ wirft. Aber inwieweit können solche Interventionen von außen zu einer siegreichen Revolution im Inneren beitragen? Jedenfalls, die illegale Aktion von Israel und den USA ändert nichts daran, dass das Regime unter der Führung des jetzt getöteten Geistlichen Oberhaupts Chamenei ein furchtbares und für viele Menschen tödliches Regime war.

Das Konzept des Großraums schuf die ideologische und völkerrechtliche (!) Grundlage für ein imperialistisches Deutschland und seiner Einflusszone.

Europe’s neighbor Russia and its ally the United States, both are - in different ways - challenging a Europe which wants peace on its continent built on a strong transatlantic alliance. Russia is still our neighbor and Europe - economically and militarily - is closely connected with the U.S. Nevertheless, Europe has to look for new partners around the globe. The challenges posed by Russia and the Unites Stares are too long-term and decisive to neglect. 

Für mich waren die USA immer ein wichtiger aber anderseits schwieriger Partner Europas. Ich gehörte nie zu denen, die die USA als eine kulturlose Nation angesehen haben.