Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said Tuesday that the European Union must consider contributing more actively to unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime thoroughfare blocked by Iran in response to attacks by the United States and Israel. He also criticised European countries for distancing themselves from US military actions in the Middle East.
“Ensuring shipping after military actions, after the active phase, is also the responsibility of the European Union,” Budrys told LRT RADIO. “We already have at least two maritime operations in the region aimed at protecting ships from pirates and ensuring safe navigation. So we must consider how we can contribute and what the possible effects could be.”
Budrys said the EU could complement security efforts with diplomatic and economic measures, including pressure on Iran.
“Operations are not the only component,” he said, noting ongoing diplomatic contacts in Islamabad. “As a major diplomatic power, the European Union has its own levers. These include economic measures: showing a perspective through sanctions on Iran, relations with regional states and, ultimately, the isolation of Iran.”
He also criticised early reactions from some European allies that distanced themselves from the United States at the outset of the conflict.
“The political emotion during the first days – ‘we didn’t start this, it’s not our responsibility’ – was inappropriate and a mistake,” Budrys said. “If we see that an ally needs support, we must at least consider what that support could be.”
Budrys added that European countries should take into account criticism from US President Donald Trump, even if they do not fully agree, given the global impact of the crisis.
“We must hear President Trump’s remarks regarding certain European positions. We don’t necessarily have to agree with everything,” he said. “What matters is what we can do next, because the effects of a closed Strait of Hormuz and the overall instability in the Middle East hit everyone’s pockets.”
He warned that disruption to one of the world’s key energy transit routes could drive up fuel prices and inflation across Europe.
“Fuel prices are rising, inflation will increase, and our overall situation will worsen,” Budrys said. “We must mobilise our forces and resources to solve the issue. Europe has certainly not fully utilised everything it can do.”
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