Author: staff
Published on 16/03/2026 – 11:56 GMT+1 Oil prices rose at the open on Sunday as the Iran War entered its third week with seemingly no end in sight. Brent crude hit a high of $106.5 while WTI peaked at $102.4. At the time of writing, prices are trading at $103 and $97.5 respectively. The price action follows US strikes against Iran’s primary oil export hub, Kharg Island, on Friday after markets closed. While the attack focused on the island’s military infrastructure, the strike on Iran’s key export terminal is the latest in a series of destabilising moves in the beleaguered…
BERLIN — Germany’s government rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that NATO allies help secure the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the alliance had no place in the war. “This war has nothing to do with NATO. It’s not NATO’s war,” Stefan Kornelius, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, told reporters in Berlin on Monday. “NATO is a defensive alliance, an alliance for the defense of its territory,” he added. Trump had warned NATO allies on Sunday they face a “very bad future” if they refuse to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, pressing Europe to support an American…
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief diplomat, said on Monday that she would propose changing the mandate of the bloc’s naval mission, as pressure on Europe grows to help secure access to the Strait of Hormuz and prevent major disruptions to global oil supplies. “We will discuss with the member states whether it is possible to really change the mandate of this mission,” Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Brussels. “It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open,” she added. Ministers are gathering in Brussels today to discuss how Europe…
The narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the rest of the world has never been more scrutinised. Normally, it would carry roughly 20% of the world’s oil trade and 30% of global fertiliser supply. Instead, it has become a key battleground in the Iran War as it enters its third week, where oil and shipping have become the frontlines of economic warfare. “What was once a disruption-sensitive environment has now shifted into a persistently hostile operating zone, where voyage viability, insurer acceptance, and real-time tactical conditions are major constraints,” Marco Fogione, the director…
Energy markets are on edge as Iran tensions disrupt shipping and threaten supply shocks. EU foreign ministers and energy ministers meet in Brussels to discuss what the bloc can actually do to protect global energy flows — and whether it has the tools to act. Meanwhile, Norway is positioning itself as a reliable energy lifeline as the geopolitical turmoil puts security of supply back in focus. And the U.K.’s Brexit minister is in town as the EU asks Britain to lower the tuition fees it charges students from the bloc before Brussels and London can move forward with a “Brexit…
France held the first round of its 2026 municipal elections on Sunday, with nearly 48.7 million voters called to the polls across around 35,000 villages, towns and city boroughs. The vote was also marked by a high abstention rate. Analysts point to several possible reasons, including growing distrust in politics and broader democratic fatigue among voters. Around two-thirds of French villages, towns and smaller municipalities are expected to elect their mayor in the first round, often often due to there only being one candidate listed, or limited competition. The picture is far more uncertain in France’s largest cities, where the…
US President Donald Trump is piling the pressure on the UK to back his war in Iran – but how long can Sir Keir Starmer hold his nerve? Barrels of oil continue to be above $100, and the Strait of Hormuz remains shut – all as Mr Trump casts doubt on the future of NATO for nations not co-operating with him. Ahead of a key PM speech later today, Sam and Anne examine the diplomatic fallout and assess how the prime minister will navigate an increasingly fraught relationship with Mr Trump. Plus, what does all this mean for people back…
Military strikes and rising tensions have made it harder to ship goods through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil and large amounts of liquefied natural gas. Tanker traffic has dropped sharply due to security concerns, insurance costs are up, and some big energy facilities in the Gulf have stopped production. As a result, global energy markets reacted sharply: oil prices have jumped, and natural gas prices, particularly in Europe, are rising as traders fear prolonged supply disruptions. A severe energy crisis is pending. The European Union imports most of its energy,…
“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump said. “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.” Trump said allies could contribute naval assets such as minesweepers — vessels Europe has far more of than the U.S. “Whatever it takes,” he said when asked what help Washington expects. In recent days, he has namechecked China, France, Japan, South Korea and the U.K. as countries he expects to assist in the Gulf.…
Published on 16/03/2026 – 9:18 GMT+1 On today’s show: Euronews’ EU Editor Maria Tadeo reports on the latest developments and reactions to the US-Israeli war on Iran, with the impact of the conflict to Europe’s energy system expected to be front and centre in today’s meeting of EU foreign ministers. A live connection with Associated Press’ Philip Crowther, who joins Europe Today from the Strait of Hormuz with the latest updates. Interviews with Oana Țoiu, Romania’s Foreign Minister, and Lana Nusseibeh, United Arab Emirates Minister of State. Our Stefan Grobe looks into the news indicating that Manfred Weber, President of…