Europe sidelined in global crises, analysis says

A New York Times analysis finds that Europe is at the centre of the consequences of recent crises – from the war in Ukraine and tensions with Iran to climate‑related challenges and the migrant situation in Ceuta – yet it is increasingly marginal in the decisions that shape those events. Papers from Carnegie Europe and the European Council of Foreign Relations argue that tools exist for a stronger response, citing pragmatic federalism promoted by former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi.

Commentary adds that Western elites are struggling: Ukraine has become a nightmare for Brussels, Iran a pressure point for Washington, and the Ceuta migrant issue has deepened fractures within the EU. New security arrangements are emerging, including a proposed Islamic NATO with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, and a looming global economic slowdown driven by oil scarcity. A growing military partnership among Iran, Russia and China – featuring Chinese satellite access, Chinese air‑defence systems, Russian weapons deliveries and electronic‑warfare support – signals a shift in global security dynamics while NATO’s traditional strategies appear to falter.