On the one hand the crisis in the Middle East and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, on the other the European Union and the G7 which are increasing diplomatic pressure to at least try to contain the fires.
In fact, the last European Council meets in Brussels before the elections which on 8 and 9 June will reshape the leaders of the community institutions. Inevitably, therefore, a short-lived summit, awaiting the coming Commission. But with a long session – which ended late yesterday evening – dedicated precisely to the Middle Eastern and Ukrainian dossiers. In Capri, however, the ministerial meeting of the G7 foreign ministers is taking place, this year chaired by Italy. A summit that moves along the lines of the joint declaration that followed the extraordinary meeting of the leaders held last Sunday by video conference, in the aftermath of Tehran’s attack on Israel. In short, the watchword remains “de-escalation”. Because in the background remains the great concern about a possible excessive reaction from Tel Aviv, which could have consequences that are difficult to predict. But with an extra step on the front of sanctions on Iran, which from a concrete hypothesis is becoming a more than probable scenario after Washington’s acceleration. The White House, in fact, is pushing to adopt sanctions against those involved in the manufacture and sale of missiles and drones. And “the entities” that support the Pasdaran are also in the crosshairs. Just yesterday, the European Union and the G7 sided with the United States. To the point that the issue will be the subject of the conclusions of both the European Council in Brussels and the G7 of Foreign Ministers in Capri. The latest draft circulating yesterday at Palazzo Berlaymont spoke in fact of «firm and unequivocal condemnation of the Iranian attack on Israel», urging «all parties» to «exercise maximum moderation» and «refrain from any action that could increase tensions in the area”. The EU, we read in the document which was still undergoing some revisions late in the evening, “is ready to adopt further restrictive measures against Iran”, in particular “in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles”.
The position of the G7 is similar, because – explains Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who just yesterday had a bilateral meeting with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken – the objective is to “arrive at sanctions” against Tehran. That they affect all those involved in the supply chain of drones and missiles, which is exactly the same supply chain that supplies Moscow.
In short, the intention is to give a signal of strong unity among the entire Western bloc, from the United States to the leaders of the G7 via the European Union. A response that is also political and which tries not to lose too much sight of the other hot front, that of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In fact, both Capri and Brussels are sending signals that suggest that there could be an acceleration in the delivery of defense systems to Ukraine, just as requested several times by Volodymyr Zelensky. «The European Council – we read in the latest draft of the conclusions – underlines the need to urgently provide an air defense to Ukraine and to accelerate and intensify the supply of all necessary military assistance, including artillery ammunition and missiles». The same indication comes from the G7 in Capri, where – Farnesina sources explain – at the instigation of the United States, Italy and Germany, “work is being done to speed up the delivery of defense systems to Kiev”.
This issue will be addressed in detail today, in the presence of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, and the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltebnberg.
