The United States ignores Europe's allies' calls for a ceasefire, and the rift between both sides continues to deepen.

This article is reprinted from [Xinhua News Agency];

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 25 — Recently, French and German high-level officials accused the United States of launching military strikes against Iran without informing allies beforehand, and of causing spillover effects that have led to significant economic losses for the latter, deepening cracks in transatlantic relations. Meanwhile, the U.S. has ignored allies’ concerns about “stopping the war” and is still planning to deploy more troops to the Middle East.

Allies are anxious and uneasy

On March 24, French Chief of the Defense Staff, General Fabien Mandon, criticized at a security and defense forum in Paris that the United States, as an ally, has become “increasingly unreliable.” According to Mandon, although the U.S. remains a French ally, it has become more unpredictable, “even lazy to notify us before striking Iran,” and the U.S. actions have affected France’s security and interests.

On the same day, French President Emmanuel Macron stated on social media that he had spoken with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, calling for Iran to cease attacks on relevant Middle Eastern countries, restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and actively engage in negotiations to de-escalate the situation.

On March 9, Macron arrived at the Paphos Air Base in southwestern Cyprus. Photo by Xinhua (Photographer: George Christoforou)

At a national defense and security meeting on the 17th, Macron said that since France is not a party to the conflict, it would not participate in any actions aimed at “opening” the Strait of Hormuz under the current circumstances. According to a Saudi Arabian news website, this statement was seen as a “slap in the face” to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks the previous day. Trump, at an event at the White House on the 16th, hinted that France might join the U.S.-proposed escort mission for the Strait of Hormuz. The report pointed out that since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict, shipping risks through the Strait of Hormuz have surged, global oil prices have fluctuated sharply, and many European countries are striving to safeguard their interests.

Also on the 24th, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Katrin Göring-Eckardt, warned at an energy industry conference in Texas that Germany’s “fragile economic recovery” is threatened by spillover effects from Middle Eastern conflicts, and that Germany could face fuel shortages within weeks. Göring-Eckardt said that if the conflict prolongs, Germany might face fuel shortages in April or May.

Germany’s economy has recently shown signs of recovery, but the current sharp rise in international energy prices has increased production costs for energy-intensive industries such as mechanical manufacturing and chemicals, affecting investment trends, production plans, and profit margins. Data from the German Institute for Economic Research shows that if Brent crude oil futures in London rise to $150 per barrel, Germany could lose over 80 billion euros over two years.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated on the 24th at a commemorative event at the German Foreign Office that since Trump began his second term, the cracks in transatlantic relations have deepened. He emphasized that U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran are undoubtedly violations of international law and a fatal political mistake.

On March 21, people in London participated in a rally protesting against U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran. Photo by Xinhua (Photographer: Li Ying)

The U.S. may increase troop deployment

While European allies are anxious and uneasy, the U.S. continues to consider further troop increases in the Middle East. Multiple U.S. media outlets, including The New York Times, on the 24th cited sources from the U.S. Department of Defense reporting that the Pentagon has dispatched about 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East to prepare for more military options while Trump engages in diplomatic efforts with Iran. According to reports, recent movements include several warships and thousands of Marines departing from ports in California, with an expected arrival in the Middle East in at least three weeks.

The report states that the Marine training includes supporting U.S. consular operations, evacuating civilians, and conducting rescue missions; the 82nd Airborne’s training involves parachuting into “hostile or contested areas” to seize key regions and airports.

Regarding the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, the Trump administration has recently sent signals of “both fighting and negotiating.” While threatening Iran with strikes on “various power plants,” it also claims