Steven Everts: For Europeans, war on Iran 'a diversion' and 'giant gift to Putin'

Steven Everts, director of the European Union Institute for Security Studies, argues that a current conflict with Iran represents a strategic distraction that ultimately benefits Russia by diverting Western attention and resources from other security priorities. Everts characterizes the conflict as an unnecessary cycle of retaliation that risks regional escalation and threatens global energy markets already strained by geopolitical tensions. Europe is already experiencing economic consequences from the conflict, and Everts warns that further destabilization could compound those costs while weakening the West's ability to respond to other strategic challenges. His assessment reflects European concerns that military action in the Middle East could undermine unified Western strategy at a time when Russia remains the continent's primary security concern.