EU Unity Cracks as Israel Feud Splits Brussels, NATO Summit Looms
A power struggle inside the European Union over Israel policy has erupted into open conflict, just weeks before a critical NATO summit in Ankara that will test the alliance's cohesion amid US threats to pull back from Europe.
The European Union’s top foreign policy official, Kaja Kallas, says Israeli actions are weakening the possibility of a two-state solution, calling Türkiye an “indispensable” partner for Europe on defense, migration, and regional stability [184481]. But Kallas’s authority was publicly undermined last week when Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar cut off relations with her, after she allegedly compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to South Africa’s apartheid system [181080].
Despite the diplomatic rupture, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent Commissioner Dubravka Šuica to Israel, where she met with Saar—effectively bypassing Kallas [181080]. The move deepened a long-running internal EU rift. Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the visit, writing: “Israel declares Kaja Kallas persona non grata for alleged antisemitic attitude, and the next day her colleague Commissioner Dubravka Šuica lands in Tel Aviv, exchanging smiles and no reproach with Minister Gideon Saar. What a show of ‘solidarity and coordination’ in the EU” [181080].
The internal EU crisis comes as NATO prepares for its July 7-8 summit in Ankara, where traffic restrictions begin July 6 [181633]. NATO’s deputy commander, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer, acknowledged the alliance is in “a moment of turbulence” [182340]. US President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals—threatening to leave the alliance while also pledging to send 5,000 troops to Poland [182340]. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has launched a surprise six-month review of American forces in Europe [182340].
European leaders have responded by deepening defense cooperation with NATO, agreeing to boost weapons and ammunition production to reduce reliance on non-European suppliers [180873]. European nations are increasing military spending at an unprecedented rate, with some quadrupling production of 155 mm artillery shells [182340]. However, Stringer warned that replacing US long-range strike and surveillance capabilities would be difficult [182340].
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kallas and several European commissioners will visit Türkiye next week ahead of the NATO summit, aiming to reset ties and discuss shared geopolitical challenges [184496]. Kallas described Ankara as a key player in managing migration flows and maintaining regional security [184481].