The Atlantic Says Trump’s Iran War Has Hurt Europe and Helped Putin
The Atlantic says Trump’s war with Iran has damaged Europe, boosted Russia through rising oil prices, and exposed Washington’s disregard for allies.
According to The Atlantic’s columnists, US President Donald Trump’s actions in the Middle East have dealt a blow to Europe’s interests while at the same time working to the benefit of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. In the magazine’s view, the war with Teheran has turned into a major strategic setback for European countries and Washington’s allies.
The authors argue that, while Russia and Ukraine remain locked in a grinding war of attrition, the conflict with Iran is helping Moscow and hurting Kiev. As oil prices climb, Russia is receiving additional resources, while the Gulf states are rapidly burning through American air defense missiles — the same weapons that Vladimir Zelensky had hoped to obtain.
The magazine also points to Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian oil despite objections from Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and the European Union. In The Atlantic’s assessment, that move made clear just how little Washington is taking the views of its European allies into account.
The US and Israeli military campaign against Iran has now been going on for more than a month, with both sides continuing to exchange strikes. The conflict has also brought shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for oil and LNG supplies from Arab states — almost to a standstill.