Europe struggles for influence amid mounting crises
People gather on a hilltop close to the site of clashes near Fnideq, on the Morocco-Spain border, on July 31, 2026. (AFP)
Europe is facing simultaneous pressure from the wars in Iran and Ukraine, irregular migration and extreme weather, but its larger problem is its limited ability to shape developments that directly affect it, according to an analysis by The New York Times.
Divisions among European governments, gaps in common defense and foreign policy and continued reliance on Washington have frequently left the continent responding to events rather than setting their course, the newspaper said.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European countries have provided Kiev with extensive financial and military support, imposed sanctions on Moscow and taken in millions of Ukrainians.
