The United States ignores Europe's allies' calls for a ceasefire, and the rift between both sides continues to deepen.

On March 21, people gathered in London, UK, to protest against the US and Israel’s military strikes on Iran. Xinhua News Agency

Recently, French and German officials accused the US of launching military strikes on Iran without informing allies beforehand, and of causing spillover effects that resulted in significant economic losses for the latter, deepening cracks in transatlantic relations. However, the US has ignored its allies’ calls for de-escalation and is still considering deploying more troops to the Middle East.

Allies are anxious and uneasy

On the 24th, French Chief of Defense Staff General Fabien Mandon criticized at a security and defense forum in Paris that the US, as an ally, is becoming “increasingly unreliable.” According to Mandon, although the US remains a French ally, it has become more unpredictable, “even lazy to notify us before striking Iran,” and US actions are affecting France’s security and interests.

On the same day, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on social media that he had spoken with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, urging Iran to cease its attacks on regional countries, restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and actively engage in negotiations to de-escalate the situation.

During a national defense and security meeting on the 17th, Macron stated that France, not being a party to the conflict, would not participate in any operations aimed at “opening” the Strait of Hormuz under current circumstances. A Saudi Arabian news website reported that this stance was seen as a “slap in the face” to US President Donald Trump, who the day before had implied that France might join the US-led convoy mission in the Strait of Hormuz. The report pointed out that since the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict, shipping risks through the Strait of Hormuz have surged, causing sharp fluctuations in global oil prices, with many European countries striving to protect their interests.

On the 24th, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, warned at an energy industry conference in Texas that Germany’s “fragile economic recovery” is threatened by spillover effects from Middle Eastern conflicts, and that fuel shortages could occur within weeks. Göring-Eckardt said that if the conflict prolongs, Germany might face fuel shortages as early as April or May.

Germany’s economy has recently shown signs of recovery, but the current sharp rise in international energy prices has increased production costs for energy-intensive industries such as mechanical manufacturing and chemicals, affecting investment trends, production plans, and profit margins. According to data from the German Institute for Economic Research, if Brent crude oil futures in London rise to $150 per barrel, Germany could lose over 80 billion euros over two years.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated on the 24th at a commemorative event at the German Foreign Office that since Trump began his second term, the cracks in transatlantic relations have deepened. He emphasized that US and Israeli military strikes on Iran are undoubtedly violations of international law and a fatal political mistake.

The US may increase troop deployment

While European allies remain anxious, the US continues to consider further troop deployments to the Middle East. Several US media outlets, including The New York Times, on the 24th cited US Defense Department officials saying that the Pentagon has dispatched about 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to prepare for more military options while Trump pursues diplomatic efforts with Iran. Reports indicate that recently, several naval ships and thousands of Marines have departed from ports in California, with an expected arrival in the Middle East in at least three weeks.

The reports noted that Marine training includes supporting US consular operations, evacuating civilians, and rescue missions; the 82nd Airborne is training for parachuting into “hostile or contested areas” to seize key regions and airports.

Regarding the US-Israel-Iran conflict, the Trump administration has recently sent signals of “both military action and negotiations.” While threatening to attack Iran’s power plants and demanding Iran open the Strait of Hormuz, it also claims to have engaged in “strong” dialogue with Iran and reached some agreement points. Iran’s armed forces issued a statement responding that if the US proceeds with threats to attack Iran’s power plants, Iran will immediately take four “punitive” measures, including a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani denied any negotiations with the US on social media on the 23rd, claiming that false news is being spread to manipulate financial and oil markets and to help the US and Israel escape their “deep quagmire.”

A think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, analyzed that the US aims to delay Iran’s actions by releasing these complex signals, buying time for US Marines to arrive in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is actively seeking ways to exit the conflict.

(From Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 25)