This Sunday, the Munich conference on international security policy ended. This 60th edition brought together leaders from several countries. At the center of the debates, the situation in the Middle East, the offensive on Rafah as well as the war in Ukraine were discussed.
During this last day, which closed three days of debates on geopolitical issues, the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell declared that the most important geopolitical questions facing the European Union today are linked to Ukraine, Gaza and the southern country, as well as defense.
Regarding Ukraine, he also warned that “for the first time in our history, we must supply weapons to a country at war” and that “this requires us to work together, faster and better.”
“We perhaps hesitated too much, too often. Two years ago, we were ready to give helmets. Today, we give F-16s, but two years later (…) If we had made this decision more quickly, perhaps the war would have been different.” He added.
Josep Borrell also mentioned the situation in the occupied West Bank, recalling that since October 7, violence perpetrated by Jewish settlers against Palestinians has increased.
Several Western countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and France, have taken sanctions against certain Israeli settlers deemed “extremist”, in particular by freezing their assets. Since October 7, NGOs have reported dozens of illegally installed colonies.
For Josep Borrell, the situation in the occupied West Bank is a real obstacle to the two-state solution.
On the subject of the Gaza Strip, the head of European diplomacy reiterated his apprehensions against an offensive in Rafa by the Israeli army, where more than a million people are massed.
He also said: “Without a clear perspective for the Palestinian people, there will be no peace in the Middle East and Israel’s security will not be ensured by military means alone.“
