Why Europe's leaders have struggled to speak as one on Iran

Why Europe's leaders have struggled to speak as one on Iran3 March 2026ShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleKatya AdlerEurope EditorBBCEurope knew this may be coming. For weeks, leaders and policy makers watched the US military build-up in the Middle East. They heard the threats of the Trump administration to Tehran: Give up all nuclear aspirations - or else!But since the US-Israeli attack started on Iran three days ago, this continent has looked at best uncoordinated, if not fractured and decidedly without leverage, caught up in the maelstrom of events.Each European country is understandably angsting about its citizens in the region - whether and how they may need to evacuate what would be tens of thousands of people in total.European governments worry too about the impact the unfolding Middle East crisis may have on consumers back home. On energy and food prices, for example. European gas prices have soared to an extent not seen since the launch of Russia's fullscale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Getty ImagesThe US and Israel have continued to strike targets in Tehran (pictured)Politically, Europe is clearly struggling to find a united voice on the fast-paced dizzying developments in the Middle East.The continent's Big Three, France, Germany and the UK, did manage to issue a joint statement at the weekend, warning Iran they were ready to take "defensive action" to destroy its ability to fire missiles and drones unless Tehran stopped its "indiscriminate attacks".Since then, the UK has agreed to a US request to use two British military bases for "defensive" strikes on Iranian missile sites - although president Trump has been critical that the UK hasn't been more active. France is bolstering its Middle East presence after an Iranian strike hit a French base in the United Arab Emirates and Germany says its soldiers remain ready for "defensive measures" should they be attacked but nothing beyond that was being pla...