Paris and Berlin have condemned Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes and the closure of the strait and refused to join the American military campaign. “What they are doing is to manage irrelevance [in a way that’s] dressed as initiative.”Experts also question whether a coalition of established middle powers like Berlin and Paris, acting without Washington, can actually move the needle. Analysts said the sustainability of the “middle power” stance was also tied to the ticker tape of oil prices. He also warned that France and Germany’s energy crisis-driven leadership would be short-lived. “The moment oil prices stabilise, Paris and Berlin’s diplomatic influence is likely to evaporate just as quickly,” Ding said.

Source: The Star April 08, 2026 14:26 UTC