Kallas defends Europe, rejects Trump's criticism over Iran conflict support

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas has told CNN that criticisms from the Trump administration and some Gulf officials claiming Europe has not done enough during the war with Iran are “unfair.”

She emphasised that Europe did not create the situation in the region, yet it is still contributing significantly, including providing air defences, securing the Red Sea, and supporting the Lebanese government.

Kallas highlighted that Gulf nations largely did not support Europe when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, stressing that it cannot be a “one-way street.”

“I feel that this is really unfair. Of course we can all do more, but then the question is, we also have our security theater in Europe. We have Russia’s war,” she told CNN’s Becky Anderson. “We haven’t seen really the Gulf countries helping us there, whereas it can’t be only one-way street. … So if we would be in it together like our adversaries clearly are, then we would be much stronger.”

Kallas also noted that, based on her discussions with Pakistani officials, the brokered ceasefire should include Lebanon and urged an end to Israel’s heavy bombardment there.

“The response has been too heavy handed. I mean the civilians killed. This is really not acceptable. So if it is not covering yet, then it should be covered now,” she said. “It is clear the ceasefire is fragile, and we have to do everything that it holds so that actually the parties can sit down and negotiate,” she added.

By Jeyhun Aghazada