Europe seeks to keep NATO functioning despite US differences over Iran war
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 9
Europe seeks to keep NATO functioning despite US differences over Iran war
13 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 9
In Stockholm, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Europe and the US still share the goal of ending the conflict and preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
He said Sweden and Finland had strengthened NATO's European pillar, while arguing alliance unity mattered more than troop numbers despite strains with Donald Trump's administration.
Tensions have risen over defence spending and Europe's refusal to back the US-Israeli war; Merz also criticised Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's Moscow visit as Russia remains Europe's main security threat.
With Iran months from a bomb and U.S.-Europe ties frayed, who will stop a Middle East nuclear arms race?
With U.S. troops leaving Germany, can Europe's new military ambitions realistically deter a resurgent Russia?
Iran's blockade crippled global oil supplies. Could Russia now use the same tactics to choke Europe's vital Baltic sea lanes?
Europe in Crisis: The 2026 Iran War, NATO Fractures, and the Urgent Push for Strategic Autonomy
Overview
The Iran War, launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026, began with a direct strike on Iran’s leadership and quickly escalated as Iran retaliated. This rapid escalation led to deadly attacks, including the loss of U.S. soldiers in Kuwait and strikes on vital energy infrastructure like Iran’s South Pars gasfield and Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility. The conflict’s expansion to energy targets triggered a global shockwave, threatening critical supply routes and causing immediate economic and security crises, especially in Europe, which relies heavily on these energy flows for stability.