Challenges for Europe

Table of understanding without waiting for a common foreign policy

Even China is now taking the first steps to contribute to a lasting truce in the Middle East

by Lorenzo Marsili

16 April 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have confronted Europeans with the obvious: the lack of a common foreign policy renders us incapable of defending our most vital interests and deprives the world of an essential player in the peaceful resolution of international disputes. Is it impossible to imagine a European foreign policy? The truth is that we could have it already tomorrow. Starting with those who are in it.

Even China, which has always been reluctant to take any leading role on the international diplomatic scene, is now taking the first steps to contribute to a lasting truce in the Middle East. The European silence is all the more deafening when we recall a simple fact: Donald Trump is trying to achieve in Iran by force what Europe had already achieved by diplomacy.

In 2015, European countries signed an agreement with Iran that blocked uranium enrichment and imposed regular inspections of all nuclear sites. The agreement worked, as has been reiterated in several places by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In 2016, Barack Obama's United States and Europe then lifted economic sanctions on Iran. Investment resumed and so did the hope for a smooth transition of the regime. The Iranian president even came on an official visit to Rome and visited the Capitoline museums - whose statues, with hospitable excess of zeal, were covered in their nudity so as not to offend Islamic sensibilities.

In 2018 Donald Trump won the election. And for no reason other than animosity towards Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence, he decided to blow up the deal. Europe responded by gibbering and followed slavishly.

It is at that point that the escalation starts again on both sides. The Iranian regime responds by resuming uranium enrichment and marginalising the moderate component that had signed the agreement. The US and Israel begin targeted killings of political leaders and scientists.

Violence calls for violence, and so we come to today's madness. With Donald Trump trying to negotiate again the deal he himself blew up under the bombs.

Morals? Slavish Europe brings war and economic crisis. Strong Europe brings peace and shared prosperity. To save ourselves, and save the world, we must speak with one voice. The alternative is subservience and impoverishment.

There is no need to wait for 27 states to agree. You can start right away, with whoever you want. Let's think about it: if Italia, France, Germany and Spain, to name just four, decided to pool their foreign policy, then Europe would have found its voice in the world.

It is not even necessary to have a common foreign policy on everything. It would suffice to start where it is most needed: a position towards the war in Iran and towards the war in Ukraine, and a common representative to decline it in the world.

We did this with the most important European innovations. With Schengen, which today guarantees freedom of movement to almost all Europeans but started with only five countries. With the euro, which began with eleven. It starts with a few. And those who remain outside sooner or later feel cold and run to join. The same process, of course, could be advanced on the subject of common defence.

There are no vetoes and therefore no alibis. All that is needed is the will to do so. Any government, Italy for example, could already now invite all European capitals to pool foreign policy elements. And proceed with whoever decides to accept the invitation.

Let us remember that when Europe acts together, it can be a beacon of cooperation and shared prosperity. Never before has the world been looking for a leader who can keep the horizon of multilateralism and law open. Europe has a historic opportunity to tell the world, and itself, who it is and what it stands for. By building itself in action. By raising its head, instead of burying it in the sand and suffocating.

The choice is ours. Because it depends on the will of a few national leaders whose power depends on our vote. It is a road we urgently need to travel. Because it is not a question of right or left, Europeanism or nationalism. It is a question of war or peace, prosperity or misery.