Europe’s Hypocrisy: Undermining Global Order

Eighty years after the United Nations Charter, meant to prevent war, was signed, European governments are seemingly ignoring its core principles. Recent actions and statements suggest a double standard, prioritizing their own interests over international law and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Double Standards Exposed

The UN Charter, established on June 26, 1945, explicitly sought to prevent war through Article 2(4), which outlaws the use of force. However, following the United States’ bombing of Iran’s nuclear program, the E3 countries—the United Kingdom, France, and Germany—released a statement that disregarded international law, along with the Charter’s anniversary. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a post on X, focused on the risks of a nuclear Iran and regional stability, seemingly placing them above adherence to international law.

Conversely, when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, European leaders strongly condemned the aggression, viewing it as an attack on Europe itself. They mobilized to punish Moscow, providing Kyiv with military and financial support. EU leaders have endorsed a special tribunal to try Russia for the crime of aggression.

“The rules-based order was always a deliberately opaque term designed to allow a subset of states to dictate the terms of legitimate interstate behavior.”

—Person Name, Title

Europe’s response to the events of the past three years has unveiled contradictory ambitions and a directionless foreign policy. Furthermore, according to a 2024 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), military spending by European countries has increased significantly since the start of the war in Ukraine, demonstrating their shifting priorities (SIPRI 2024).

The Erosion of Principles

The perceived security concerns of European governments, rather than universal principles, are driving their stance on Ukraine. This undermines Europe’s ability to gain international support for isolating Russia and encouraging compromise. Twenty months of Israeli violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, have not prompted a significant break in relations between Jerusalem and European capitals.

The U.S. invasion of Iraq and Russia’s actions in Ukraine have set a precedent, and rising middle powers appear ready to follow it. European governments should consistently condemn violations of international law. They should also consider rallying a global coalition to develop new and stricter international norms to regulate the use of force. Europe must lead by example, promoting diplomacy over military coercion to achieve political objectives.