German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French counterpart President Emmanuel Macron held talks on advancing joint defense projects and sovereignty. In addition, they discussed promoting several slow-moving mutual defense projects, while President Macron expressed his willingness to increase European autonomy. At the same time, the E.U. reacted to Kosovo’s decision to have an embassy in Jerusalem, whereas, in line with U.N. Security Council resolution 478, all E.U. Member States’ embassies and the E.U. delegation to Israel are located in Tel Aviv. The E.U. expects Kosovo to act in line with its commitment to E.U. integration to not undermine its European perspective.

Europe’s strategic absence from managing the crises in the ΜΕΝΑ region and its inability to offer exit strategies have to be examined as a matter of urgency since such a posture discredits the original concept of the Barcelona Declaration and the European neighbourhood policy. It is time for a reset in the E.U. – MENA partnership. On the other hand, the Gulf of Guinea remains an area of strategic importance while its growing instability has enormous global consequences. For this reason, it requires a sustained international mobilization to address its vulnerabilities. It is an area in which Europe, also supported by Washington, can increase its role as a security provider in order to address the region’s growing security challenges.

Turkey has moved a long way from being a promising E.U. candidate country to adopting a disruptive partner’s posture for the West. Therefore, a number of analysts in Washington advocate that the E.U. and the United States must protect their interests by containing disruptive behavior while maintaining economic and security ties. Under its neo-Ottoman imperialist foreign policy, Turkey wants to increase its power and influence on the ancient Ottoman territories, from the Balkans to the Middle East. In this context, a specific foreign and security policy from the European Union is necessary to deal with the strategic problems related to the new Eastern Question. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the E.U. could play a mediating role in the dispute with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program. Zarif said the E.U. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission (HR/VP) Josep Borrell, could coordinate a synchronized return of Washington and Tehran into a nuclear deal.