EU warns Middle East war already impacting Europe

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the ongoing war in the Middle East is already having direct consequences for Europe, including rising energy prices and security threats to NATO allies.

Speaking on Monday to European Union ambassadors in Brussels, von der Leyen said the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has begun to spill beyond the region.

“We are now seeing a regional conflict with unintended consequences. And the spillover is already a reality today,” she said.

Oil prices surged on Monday, climbing close to $120 per barrel as the war entered its second week, with Iran launching retaliatory strikes in the Gulf.

Von der Leyen said European citizens and partners are already feeling the effects, citing trade disruptions, displacement of people and an incident involving an Iranian-made drone that struck a British military base in Cyprus.

Although Iran has not formally shut down the Strait of Hormuz — a key global energy route through which roughly a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes — shipping through the strategic waterway has slowed significantly.

European gas prices also rose sharply, increasing by up to 30 percent, though they remain below the levels seen after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Von der Leyen said the longer-term implications of the conflict raise serious questions about the future of the international rules-based order and Europe’s role in global security.

“The idea that we can simply retrench and withdraw from this chaotic world is simply a fallacy,” she said.

She also addressed the war in Ukraine, assuring EU diplomats that the bloc remains committed to delivering a €90 billion ($104 billion) loan to Kyiv despite opposition from Hungary.

According to her, fulfilling the commitment is critical to maintaining the EU’s credibility and security.