Where does Europe stand on the US-Israel war with Iran?

As the US-Israel war with Iran intensifies, Europe is under growing scrutiny. What potential threats does it face and what is driving the bloc's strategy? ConflictsEuropeWhere does Europe stand on the US-Israel war with Iran?Anchal Vohra in Brussels03/06/2026March 6, 2026As the US-Israel war with Iran intensifies, Europe is under growing scrutiny. What potential threats does it face and what is driving the bloc's strategy? https://p.dw.com/p/59vW5European powers do not have a common approach to the US-Israel war with Iran Image: Michael Kappeler/Pool/dts Nachrichtenagentur/IMAGOAdvertisementThe European Union (EU), key powers of the bloc and the United Kingdom (UK), have called for international law to be followed, and condemned Iran's regime, However, so far they have failed to articulate a common approach, and appeared divided, sidelined and ineffective as a major crisis unfolds in the Middle East with possible ramifications for Europe and the world.  However, in the wake of Iran's drone attack on Cyprus — an EU territory — and the regime's ongoing strikes on assets in the Gulf countries, can Europe remain on the fence?  Experts say European powers are adopting a defensive strategy, rather than getting involved militarily.  Cornelius Adebahr, Associate Fellow at the German Council of Foreign Relations (DGAP), said that EU member states and the UK are united in taking defensive measures if a European country is attacked, and in helping the Gulf nations with whatever they can. However, he added, they disagree on Trump's war goals and the extent to which they should support US action against Iran. "There will be no unified position on the war," Adebahr told DW. "On the other hand, none of the member states will enter the war directly; they will not play an active role alongside the US or Israel." Iran war: Trump's unpredictable gamble?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Europe under US pressure to back the war  On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that US President Donald Trump expects "all of our European allies" to back the US and Israel's war against Iran. She said the goal was to "crush the rogue Iranian regime that not only threatens America, but also threatens our European allies."  This came after Trump appeared flustered by the delay in European backing for the war.  "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with," Trump said of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after he said the UK did not believe in "regime change from the skies." Starmer has expressed doubts about the legality of the war, although he has allowed the US to use two British bases.  The UK is not part of the EU but is a key member of the European Three (E3), alongside France and Germany, who are co-signatories of the US-Iran nuclear deal and architects of the EU's joint Iran policy.  In comparison, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz received praise when he visited the White House on Wednesday. Trump described Merz as an excellent leader, as Merz sided with Trump on getting rid of a "terrible" regime and allowed US forces to use the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.  France, meanwhile, has authorized a temporary presence of American planes to land at certain French bases. However, the approval came only after France secured guarantees that the aircraft would not be used to carry out attacks against Iran and would operate solely in "support of the defense of our partners in the region," according to a French official quoted by Reuters.  Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Rome had not yet received any request from the US to use its bases. However, Italy has said that it may provide air defence systems to Gulf states. Antonio Giustozzi, from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank in London, told DW that allowing the limited use of bases was "a compromise under US pressure to do something."Iran launches retaliatory strikes across Gulf regionTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video How does Iran pose a threat to the EU and the UK? The Iranian drone attack on a British Royal Air Force base in Cyprus has spooked Europeans who rushed support to the country, with Italy, Greece, the Netherlands and France sending naval vessels to Cyprus.  "Iran is well aware that this is an attack on an EU state. But that seems to be the point. Tehran appears intent on not only expanding the war into Persian Gulf states but also into Europe," said Trita Parsi, co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He referred to an attack on a French base in the UAE and said that, according to Iran, "for the war to be able to end, Europe too has to pay a cost, the reasoning appears to be." Meanwhile, NATO chief Mark Rutte has warned that Tehran poses a threat