France, Italy and Greece to coordinate military assets near Cyprus, eastern Mediterranean
Meanwhile, France, Italy and Greece will “coordinate the dispatch of military assets” to Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean after the outbreak of the Middle East war, a member of president Emmanuel Macron’s team said, AFP reported.
Macron had called the prime ministers of Italy and Greece, Giorgia Meloni and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the source said.
“They agreed to coordinate the dispatch of military assets to Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean and to work together to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.”
Updated
EU must strongly push back against Trump's economic threats to Spain, senior academic says
European leaders must push back against Donald Trump’s attempts to punish states with economic sanctions unless they align to his military goals, a senior academic has said in a new paper.
He said the bloc should also consider triggering the Anti-Coercion Instrument if Trump tries to halt trade with Spain or impose country specific tariffs in retaliation against its refusal to be part of his war on Iran.
“European leaders must see this coercion for what it is and respond collectively” to defend the sovereignty of its member states including Spain which was threatened by the US president, he said.
“Various European leaders including France’s Emmanuel Macron, European Council president António Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen have expressed their support for Spain. But a joint European statement would send a stronger signal of solidarity,” said José Ignacio Torreblanca, a fellow at the European Council of Foreign Relations and former op-ed editor of El País.
Torreblanca says the European Commission should also make clear that if the US attempts to coerce Spain and halt trade or impose country-specific tariffs, it will trigger the Anti-Coercion Instrument, billed as the “bazooka” of EU economic tools.
“A unified European response has discouraged escalation from Trump before when he advanced the idea of acquiring Greenland,” says Torreblanca.
EU internal market commissioner Stéphane Séjourné said yesterday that “any threat against member state is by definition threat against the EU.”
UK defence secretary visits British base on Cyprus amid calls for action to protect island
in Akrotiri, Cyprus
Over in Cyprus, where so many allies intend to send their reinforcements, the UK’s visiting defence minister John Healey has just wrapped up talks with his Cypriot counterpart.
Emphasizing the two countries’ longstanding friendship, Healey said talks had focused on “how the UK is further reinforcing our air defences to support our shared security,” following Sunday’s drone attack on RAF Akrotiri.
The presence of UK sovereign base areas – a legacy of British colonial rule – has long been a bone of contention among both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The drone strike, which caused marginal damage to the military installation’s landing strip, has brought that disgruntlement out into the open at an official level as never before.
For the first time the island’s political and diplomatic elite has expressed consternation over the dangers posed by the facilities, saying Britain has not done enough to protect the installations and surrounding areas where locals live.
The UK, unlike Europe, is perceived to have dragged its feet in deciding to deploy military support.
“There’s a sense of there being too little too late,” one senior official told the Guardian this morning. “There’s been a lot of talking at the highest level and the defense minister’s visit is part of that. But now we’ve gone beyond words. Now is a time for serious cooperation regarding the bases. Now is the time for action.”
Germany to monitor fuel price gouging attempts, minister says
in Berlin
Separately, German economy minister Katherina Reiche has said cartel authorities would look into fuel price gouging after a surge at the pump immediately following the start of Operation Epic Fury.
Petrol and diesel prices surged around 20% in Germany after the US-Israeli military assault on Iran began.
Average prices for diesel surpassed €2 per litre by Wednesday morning, the ADAC motoring club said, while the cheapest variety of petrol stood just half a cent below the €2 mark.
“We will ensure no one takes advantage of a situation which is reflected in the markets but not to this extent,” Reiche told the podcast Table.Briefings. She said she was in “close contact” with the Federal Cartel Office on the matter.
Finance minister Lars Klingbeil threatened oil companies with consequences if they tried to exploit the current crisis.
“There must be no rip-offs now, and politicians must of course take action and proceed clearly and consistently,” the Social Democratic party (SPD) leader told public broadcaster ZDF.
The SPD and CDU parliamentary groups representing the main parties in Germany’s ruling coalition said they would investigate the spike in energy prices with a view to taking action to curb it.
The premier of Saxony-Anhalt state, Sven Schulze, who faces a tough battle for re-election this year, called for relief for private households as well as companies including a “fuel price brake”.
Germany had already introduced a similar “pump rebate” after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 drove up oil prices. The measure slashed energy taxes to bring the price of fuel down but ecological groups criticised it as offering false incentives to consumers.
First government-organised German repatriation flight from Middle East lands in Frankfurt
in Berlin
Meanwhile, the first government-organised flight carrying German travellers stranded due to the US-Israeli military operation in Iran landed at the country’s busiest airport on Thursday morning,
More than 250 relieved passengers touched down in Frankfurt on an Airbus A340-300 operated by Lufthansa from Oman with a nearly two-hour delay due to a late departure.
The evacuees were handpicked by the German government among tens of thousands waylaid in the Gulf. The group whose transport was deemed most urgent were first driven over land to Muscat from various points in the region.
Foreign minister Johann Wadephul, who has faced criticism for a muddled reaction to the traveller crisis, identified particularly vulnerable groups to get priority for the flights including the pregnant, the ill and children.
Further evacuations are planned in the coming days.
Other German nationals had managed to get on a severely limited number of flights offered by commercial airlines in recent days, primarily from the United Arab Emirates.
A heated debate broke out in Germany this week about the extent to which the foreign ministry was responsible for ferrying nationals out of the crisis region and whether the ministry’s travel advisories in the run-up to the outbreak of war were sufficient.
Wadephul had falsely claimed in a television interview that a travel warning had been in place for Gulf states for several days when one was only levelled for Dubai, a popular German destination, on Saturday, the day the US-Israeli military action began.
A travel warning includes a formal urgent call for nationals to leave an affected area based on a concrete threat to their wellbeing.
'We will not allow ourselves to be divided,' German FM says backing Spain after Trump's trade threats
On that note, Germany has offered its solidarity with Spain in a marked change of tone, after chancellor Friedrich Merz's previous refusal to defend the European partner in front of Donald Trump sparked some tensions between Madrid and Berlin.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said that Spain can rely on solidarity from the European Union, and from Germany, when it comes to the threat of new US trade barriers, Reuters reported.
“We will not allow ourselves to be divided; we stand firmly together,” he said at a press conference with his Moldovan counterpart, Mihai Popsoi.
Nato's Rutte praises Spain's role across Nato territory amid US-Spain spat
Nato’s Rutte also responded to the public spat between the US and Spain over Madrid’s refusal to back the US-Israeli attack on Iran and its reluctance to meet the 5% GDP spending target.
Rutte said that Spain had signed up to the Hague declaration just like other countries, and the debate is not on capabilities, but on spending required to meet that target.
“Practice will show, but … I am sure they will see they need to spend what is necessary,” he said.
But he also pointedly praised Spain, stressing it has deployments “all over Nato territory,” including “defending key American interests in Turkey.”
He declined to clearly side with Washington or Madrid, saying:
“When there are debates between allies I always try to stay a bit muted and therefore able, if necessary, to help [to resolve these differences] a bit,” he said.
Rutte welcomes French nuclear deterrence debate, but says US remains ultimate guarantor
In his Reuters interview, Rutte also welcomed the French president Emmanuel Macron’s speech on nuclear deterrence on Monday, which he said “is opening up our conversation within Nato on what we need to have,” and adds a layer of complexity for enemies, like Russia.
But he said the US nuclear deterrence programme remained the critical element of Europe’s security.
“However, and we all agree on this, the ultimate, supreme guarantor of our way of life, the fact that we have free media, free press, that we have elections, that we have our way of life, [all] regained so hard fought after the second world war is … the United States nuclear umbrella, and that is key.”
He also rejected any suggestion that the French move could have anything to do with doubts as to whether the US was still committed to Nato.
“I’m absolutely convinced the US is completely committed to Nato - not only because the US knows that there is a historic reason to be so much involved in European security – … but also because the US knows that to stay safe itself, the US mainland, you need a secure Atlantic, a secure Europe, a secure Arctic.”
He also praised Trump for his actions strengthening the alliance.
Nato's Rutte confirms Turkey's ballistic missile interception was 'serious'
Nato secretary general Mark Rutte is now giving an interview to Reuters, offering his reaction to the recent events in the Middle East.
On Wednesday, Turkey said Nato defences intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran before it entered Turkey’s airspace.
Rutte said it was a “serious and absolutely condemnable” incident, but declined to offer more details. He said it did not provide an immediate reason to trigger the mutual defence clause in Article 5.
Speaking more broadly about Iran, Rutte said that “we know that Iran was close to getting his hands on a nuclear capability … which would be a threat not only to the Middle East, and of course, to Israel, … but also a threat to Europe.”
He said the Iran war was still in “early stages,” and “it will be difficult to assess exactly how this will end in the coming weeks,” but he added:
“There is widespread acknowledgment and agreement that at least we have to be sure that going forward, Iran is not [going to be] able again to pose death threat to its neighbours, to Israel, the Middle East, to Europe, but also through its terrorist activities, exporting chaos, exporting terrorism, basically to the whole world.”
Nato’s Rutte also insisted that there is an understanding that the Iran war should not distract allies from supporting Ukraine as it continues to defend itself from Russia.
“The fact that Ukraine is now exporting [its capabilities] and making available to allies, friends, partners - it’s impressive,” he adds.
Updated
Italy will send naval assets to protect Cyprus, support Middle Eastern allies after requests for assistance, defence minister says
in Rome
Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto said Italy will send naval assets to protect Cyprus in the coming days as well as anti-drone and anti-missile air defence systems to Middle East countries.
Speaking to parliament before a vote on Italy sending military aid to the Middle East, he confirmed earlier suggestions by prime minister Giorgia Meloni (10:56).
”We’re not the only country facing this situation and we have all received requests for assistance,” Crosetto said.
“We are evaluating together, including how to share responsibility … we must reassess our positions in the region and respond to the requests of friendly countries in difficulty.”
Crosetto added that Italy intended to deploy a “multi-domain” presence in the Middle East, “with anti-drone and anti-missile air defence systems within the scope of our authorised operations and within the limits of our missions”.
Among of the Italian opposition parties, the Five Star Movement said its deputies would abstain from the vote.
“Europe doesn’t have enemies, Italy doesn’t have enemies, but we are fighting the enemies of others – the US and Israel are choosing our enemies,” said Five Star Movement deputy Arnaldo Lomuti.
He added that Italy ought to be “sending an aid package to Iran” and “sanctioning the US and Israel for attacking it”.
France authorises US aircraft to use some of its Middle East bases, military says
Meanwhile, France has allowed US aircraft on some of its bases in the Middle East during the conflict opposing the United States and Israel with Iran, the French military said.
“As part of our relations with the United States, the presence of their aircraft has been temporarily authorised on our bases” in the region, a spokeswoman for the military general staff told AFP.
“These aircraft contribute to the protection of our partners in the Gulf.”
Spain sending frigate to help protect Cyprus, defence ministry confirms
in Madrid
Spain, whose fierce opposition to the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and refusal to allow bases in its territory to be used in the attacks has prompted Trump to threaten to stop all trade with the country, has announced that it is sending a frigate to help protect Cyprus.
The announcement comes four days after a drone attack on the UK’s RAF Akrotiri base on the island.
In a statement, Spain’s defence ministry said:
“The frigate Cristóbal Colón joined the Charles de Gaulle Naval Group on 3 March to carry out escort, protection, and advanced training duties in the Baltic Sea. The group will now head to the Mediterranean, arriving off the coast of Crete around 10 March.
The supply ship Cantabria will also briefly put to sea to provide fuel and logistical support during the Naval Group’s transit through the Gulf of Cádiz.
The Cristóbal Colón is the most technologically advanced frigate. Its mission in the Mediterranean will be to provide air defence and protection, thus complementing the capabilities of the Patriot battery deployed in Turkey. It will also be on standby to support any evacuation of civilian personnel who may be affected by the conflict.”
The statement added that the deployment was proof of Spain’s commitment to defending the EU and its borders.
Updated
Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands to send naval assets to protect Cyprus, Italian minister says
Meanwhile, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto signalled that Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands will send naval assets to protect Cyprus in the coming days.
Separately, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni told RTL 102.5 radio station that Italy was also planning to send air defence aid to Gulf countries in response to Iranian airstrikes, Reuters reported.
She said the move was driven not only by diplomatic ties but by the presence of Italians on the ground. Tens of thousands of Italian nationals live in the Gulf, while around 2,000 Italian troops are deployed there, she said.
EU hopes to see US respect its trade agreement with applies to all countries, Kallas says on tensions with Spain
Kallas was also asked about the tension between the US and Spain (9:49), but issued a rather diplomatic answer, saying that:
“Trade is the European competence. We have a trade deal with United States that was signed in June, so we hope that United States also respects this agreement that applies to all member states.”
EU’s Kallas also repeats the point about how Ukraine could help the Gulf countries with its experience of intercepting drones.
She says that some of the regional leaders expressed their positive “surprise” about “how much Ukraine is helping them in this regard, keeping in mind that they are under heavy attacks all the time.”
Iran trying to 'export war, expand it to as many countries as they can,' EU's Kallas says
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is now speaking ahead of today’s extraordinary meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.
She says that “Iran is exporting the war, trying to expand it as to as many countries as they can to sow chaos.”
“What we see in the Middle East … [is] actually the same drones that are attacking Kyiv every day now … [and] Ukraine can help the Gulf countries, because they have developed … drone interceptors and drone protection.
So we [will] see also how we can put these things together to help the countries to fight back the drone attacks.”
Some countries in the region also expressed concerns about the prospect of a “civil war inside Iran because of the regime’s leadership [change] and what is going on there.”
Kallas adds the first priority is “the safety of our citizens … in the region,” with close coordination of the EU member state’s consular services.
She also said the EU was “extremely worried” about maritime security and the traffic through the strait of Hormuz, and will work on naval missions to help with that.
She also warned that any spike in oil price caused by the conflict in the Middle East could inadvertently help Russia to fund its war against Ukraine, saying that is why “we have to really push through the maritime services ban” to target Russia’s shadow fleet.
Updated
Sweden advises citizens to keep 'warchest' in cash
Nordic correspondent
The bank of Sweden has released new guidance advising Swedish households to keep a “warchest” of 1,000 SEK (about £81) per adult amid the current global instability.
Riksbanken said the sum is calculated to cover a week’s supplies in case of crisis or war.
The population is also advised to have access to a functioning Swish (a popular Swedish digital payment service) account on their mobile and payment cards from two different banking networks.
According to estimates, six out of 10 Swedish households need to increase their cash supplies to get it up to the recommended level.
Riksbanken’s first deputy governor, Aino Bunge, said:
“It is a recommendation. It is based on the Swedish Consumer Agency’s calculations of how much food people tend to get through per month.”
But, she added, that people should build up the cash supplies over time rather than rushing out to take out cash. She added: “This is a preparedness that we should build over time.”
Ukraine ready to share expertise on fighting against Shaheds with Middle East partners, Zelenskyy says
Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to offer partners in the Middle East its practical support on fighting against Iranian Shahed drones.
In a post on X, he said a number of partner countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar were “seeking our expertise,” including a further request from Europeans and the US.
Oh, how the tables have turned.
“Of course any assistance we provide is only on the condition that it does not weaken our own defence in Ukraine and it serves as an investment in our diplomatic capabilities: we help protect against war those who help us, Ukraine, to bring the war to a dignified conclusion,” he added.
Zelenskyy also offered an update on the next round of trilateral talks with Russia and the US, which was planned for early March. He said he spoke with the US about potentially postponing the meeting “for a while due to the war in the Middle East,” and moving it to another location.
'They know it's not true,' Spanish defence minister rejects US suggestions of U-turn on Iran
in Madrid
Spain’s defence minister, Margarita Robles, has become the latest member of Pedro Sánchez’s government to emphatically dismiss White House suggestions that the administration has executed a U-turn and is now prepared to let the US use its bases to strike Iran.
Robles told Cadena Ser radio she did not know why the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, had told reporters on Wednesday that Spain was now prepared to cooperate with the ongoing offensive.
She said:
“They know it’s not true. Words are just words. I’m not going to speculate; obviously, it could be a step backward they’re trying to take after President Trump’s inappropriate statements, but the facts are crystal clear. The Spanish government will not authorise the use of the Morón and Rota bases in this context.
We all understand that what is happening in Tehran is terrible, a violation of human rights. As a woman, I am particularly pained by the situation of women in Tehran, but no one can become the international guardian. There are norms, rules; even within the United States, congressional authorisation would have been required. Spain cannot support unilateral actions that lack support from international law.”
Robles also said the government’s position had been “crystal clear from day one”, adding:
“Ethically and legally, we are doing the right thing. We will always support peace scenarios because Spain only acts when there is an umbrella of international law within the frameworks of the UN, Nato, or the EU.”
Morning opening: Spain dismisses suggestions it changed position on Iran
Spain has emphatically dismissed US suggestions that it changed its view on the Iran war and is now prepared to let the US use its bases to support the mission.
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, suggested to reporters last night that Madrid now backed the US’s military action after facing public criticism from Trump, who threatened to “cut off all dealings with Spain.”
“I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear,” Leavitt told a news briefing. “It is my understanding over the past several hours they’ve agreed to cooperate with the US military.”
Well, not really.
Our Madrid correspondent Sam Jones says her comments sparked another angry reaction from top Spanish politicians, with foreign minister José Manuel Albares telling Cadena Ser radio on Wednesday night:
“Our ‘no to war’ stance remains clear and unequivocal.
She may be the White House press secretary, but I’m the foreign minister of Spain and I’m telling her that our position hasn’t changed at all.”
Ouch.
In other news, EU foreign ministers are meeting virtually to discuss the latest in the region, as more and more countries begin their evacuation flights, with some even using military flights to get their citizens out.
More countries are also expected to decide about sending potential reinforcements to the region and to support EU ally Cyprus, with Germany reportedly considering such a move.
I will keep an eye on that.
It’s Thursday, 5 March 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
