By Abida Khan
(Editor-in-Chief)
ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, January 20, 2026 (WNP): The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas’s fresh statements at the European Parliament have reignited an intense debate over Europe’s selective morality and double standards in global affairs—particularly its contrasting positions on Iran, Ukraine, Greenland and Palestine.
Speaking in Strasbourg during debates on the state of the EU’s common foreign, security and defence policy, Kallas strongly condemned Iran’s internal handling of protests, declaring that “Iranian women and men are fighting for a future of their own choosing—for freedom, dignity, and a better life,” and described the Iranian authorities’ response as “brutal repression.” She confirmed that the EU already has sweeping sanctions on Tehran in place and is actively working on new punitive measures.
In the same address, Kallas adopted an uncompromising stance in defence of Greenland and Denmark, asserting that “Greenland belongs to its people. No threat or tariffs will change that,” and stressing that sovereignty is “not for trade.” She emphasized that Denmark and Greenland are not alone and described Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest, while warning against the use of economic coercion.
The EU’s firm language echoed its long-standing position on Ukraine, where Kallas reiterated that “Ukraine’s security is European security.” She warned that a Ukrainian defeat could pose a direct threat to Europe and reminded lawmakers that the EU remains the largest international supporter of Ukraine, offering comprehensive diplomatic, financial and military assistance.
However, critics argue that Europe’s assertiveness sharply contrasts with its silence and inaction on Palestine, where Israel’s military campaign over the past two years has resulted in widespread civilian casualties, mass displacement, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure—developments that human rights groups have repeatedly described as resembling ethnic cleansing.
Rehan Khan, a seasoned journalist and expert in international relations, strongly criticized the EU’s approach, saying Europe has “unmasked its own ugly face” by applying international law selectively.
“Europe speaks loudly about human rights in Iran, sovereignty in Greenland, and aggression in Ukraine, but turns a blind eye when Palestinian civilians are being collectively punished,” Rehan Khan told WNP.
“THIS IS NOT PRINCIPLED DIPLOMACY; IT IS INTEREST-DRIVEN POLITICS WRAPPED IN MORAL LANGUAGE.”
Khan argued that Europe’s focus on a segment of Iranian society is politically motivated rather than humanitarian.
“The EU claims to champion the rights of some Iranian people, but this narrative is largely used to pursue nefarious geopolitical objectives, including attempts to destabilize and topple a government that still enjoys the support of a majority of Iran’s population,” he said.
“AT THE SAME TIME, EUROPE CONVENIENTLY IGNORES THE FACT THAT IRAN’S ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS ARE THE DIRECT RESULT OF DECADES-LONG SANCTIONS.”
He added that European leaders frequently highlight Iran’s financial constraints while never holding the United States accountable for imposing crippling sanctions that have pushed the Iranian economy to the brink of collapse.
“You cannot discuss Iran’s economic crisis honestly without acknowledging Washington’s role,” Khan said. “Europe’s silence on this reality exposes its lack of intellectual and moral honesty.”
Expanding the critique to the broader Middle East, Khan said the region’s instability cannot be divorced from Western interventionism.
“THE MIDDLE EAST IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S RICHEST REGIONS IN NATURAL RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY BLACK GOLD,” HE NOTED. “YET IT HAS BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY TURNED INTO A WAR-TORN REGION THROUGH FOREIGN INTERVENTIONS, PROXY WARS AND ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION BY THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE. ITS RESOURCES ARE EFFECTIVELY USURPED, WHILE ITS PEOPLE PAY THE PRICE IN BLOOD AND POVERTY.”
Diplomatic observers warn that such perceived double standards are eroding Europe’s credibility, particularly in the Muslim world and the Global South, where the EU increasingly struggles to present itself as a neutral defender of international law.
As debates continue in Strasbourg, analysts say Europe faces a defining question: whether its commitment to human rights and sovereignty is universal, or merely selective, applied forcefully against adversaries while softened—or abandoned—when allies are involved.
