European leaders know they could be accused of hypocrisy if they don’t condemn US actions

We have had lots of comments from European capitals today, all remarkable for how little they actually say.

However, through the vagaries of language, you can feel a palpable sense of European discomfort and an unspoken realisation that their ally, their longtime protector, is doing things they can’t condone.

We have heard from the EU foreign policy chief saying that the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. Spain has urged de-escalation, moderation and respect for international law. Germany has expressed great concern about the situation.

What we don’t have in any of that is any full condemnation.

European leaders know that a charge of hypocrisy is very easy to make against them if they don’t condemn it, and that’s basically because for years, the Europeans have been condemning Russia for its actions in Ukraine, and now its longtime partner and ally is doing things that you could also say were violations of international law and violations of sovereignty.

When Russia does it, European leaders call it aggression. When the US does it, it’s complicated.