Kallas: EU could easily be drawn into toxic Middle East conflict

TALLINN - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned leaders at a summit on Thursday that the bloc could easily be drawn into a toxic conflict in the Middle East, from which it would be difficult to extricate itself, reports Politico.

Kallas used her speech at the European Council in Brussels to warn against an open-ended war with Iran, led by the U.S. and Israel. "Starting a war is like a love affair - it's easy to get into and hard to get out of," she said, according to two diplomats who were briefed on the substance of the meeting held behind closed doors.

At the same time, Kallas reiterated that it is important for the EU to protect its interests in the region, but said there is little appetite within the bloc to expand the mandate of the current European naval mission, Aspides, operating in the Red Sea.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on allies, including European countries such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, to help escort civilian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil and gas prices have risen sharply in recent days after Tehran closed the strategic waterway to shipping, trapping oil and gas tankers serving Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

"I wonder what would happen if we 'put an end' to what's left of the terrorist state of Iran, and let those countries that use the so-called 'strait' be responsible for it - we don't. That would get our sluggish 'allies' moving fast!!!" Trump wrote on Wednesday on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Kallas's team did not respond to Politico's request for comment.