Future EU Foreign Policy Chief Emphasizes the Need for a 'Decisive Approach' Towards Iran

The future EU foreign policy chief states that the union must pay special attention to the close relations between Iran, China, North Korea, and Russia. Kaja Kallas, the former Prime Minister of Estonia, speaking on Tuesday, November 13, in Brussels before members of the European Parliament, also warned against prejudging Donald Trump's approach to the Ukraine war. This 47-year-old politician, who is set to replace Josep Borrell in a few weeks, urged EU member states to act more strictly and seriously regarding the relations between China and Russia, especially Beijing's support for Moscow in the war against Ukraine. Kallas emphasized that Russia would not be able to continue the war with its current strength without China's support. The former Estonian Prime Minister highlighted that Beijing should pay a 'higher cost' for supplying raw materials for weapons and ammunition to Russia and helping the Kremlin to circumvent EU sanctions, also referencing the significant role of Iran and North Korea in supporting Moscow. This serious critic of Vladimir Putin called for a 'new approach' and the formulation of a 'more decisive plan' regarding Tehran. The EU has sanctioned Iran Air and Iran's Deputy Minister of Defense. Relations between Tehran and the EU have been on a downward trend in recent years, exacerbated by incidents such as the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane by the Revolutionary Guards, military support from the Islamic Republic to the Kremlin in the war against Ukraine, missile and drone attacks on Israel, and accusations against Tehran of attempting to kidnap or kill EU citizens for criticizing the Islamic Republic. Kallas also emphasized the need to increase the defense budgets of EU members, stating that it is unacceptable for Iran, North Korea, and Russia to produce more ammunition than the United States and the 27 EU member states combined. Since the beginning of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, the EU has provided over $130 billion in military, cash, and humanitarian aid to Kyiv. This political bloc has also initiated consultations to start the long membership path for Ukraine in the EU, a decision emphasized in Kallas's remarks. Full support for Ukraine 'for as long as necessary,' strengthening ties with Donald Trump, and a firm stance against China were the main themes of Kallas's three-hour hearing in the European Parliament. Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election and his previous hints about halting or reducing Washington's financial and military support for Kyiv, along with comments from some close associates of the elected President about the need to end the war quickly even at the cost of conceding parts of Ukrainian territory to Russia, have raised increasing concerns among EU members. In a clear message to the upcoming U.S. government, Kallas stressed that Washington cannot focus solely on China without considering Ukraine, as, according to her, 'these two issues are interconnected.' The former Estonian Prime Minister explained this approach by stating, 'If the United States is concerned about China's actions or those of other international actors, it must also be sensitive to how it reacts to Russia's war against Ukraine.' The future EU foreign policy chief pointed to the 'threat to the rules-based global order posed by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea,' including the potential deployment of North Korean soldiers to the battlefields of Russia's war against Ukraine, emphasizing that 'the EU and the United States will be stronger and safer together through cooperation and standing by each other.' Kaja Kallas needs the green light from the European Parliament to officially start her work as Josep Borrell's successor.