EU told ‘double standards’ for Ukraine and Gaza hurt relations with Indo-Pacific
- Remarks come at third EU-Indo Pacific summit in Brussels, attended by more than 70 delegations spanning the Pacific Islands, East Africa, Asia and Europe
- ‘It’s true, every time we talk with our partners, the issue of how we perceive the situations in Gaza and Ukraine appears,’ top EU diplomat Josep Borrell says
Several ministers from Global South nations accused the European Union of “double standards” on Friday over its contrasting policies towards Ukraine and Gaza.
Senior officials attending an Indo-Pacific summit in Brussels took aim at the EU’s perceived inability to “underline the respect of international law in a consistent manner”.
“No state is above the law,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in opening remarks at the event, urging European countries not to withdraw their support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which operates in Gaza.
“I appeal to all of you to listen to your heart and do the right thing, stop the atrocities in Gaza, in Palestine,” she said, adding that “consistency with values and actions reflect sincerity of moral high ground … it shows who we actually are”.
Later, responding to questions from the South China Morning Post, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry echoed Marsudi’s accusations.