Iran Conflict Is ‘Europe’s War’

As divisions deepen across the Atlantic over the escalating conflict with Iran, Mathias Dopfner, the longtime CEO of Axel Springer, is breaking ranks with many European leaders — arguing the war should not be viewed as a distant American problem, but as a shared Western responsibility. He has publicly urged Europe to take a more active role in the conflict, aligning himself with President Donald Trump’s push for greater NATO and European engagement.

In a recent opinion article published in Politico, Dopfner warned that Europe risks strategic irrelevance — and potential vulnerability — if it continues to distance itself from the war effort. He framed the conflict not as a unilateral U.S. intervention, but as a broader geopolitical struggle with direct consequences for European security. “This is not America’s war alone,” Dopfner wrote, arguing that the stakes — ranging from energy security to regional stability — are inherently European.

In a pointed line, he cautioned that if Europe fails to act, it may soon find itself confronting global threats without American backing. Dopfner’s comments place him firmly in support of Trump’s long-standing argument that European nations must shoulder more responsibility within NATO and global security operations. In his article, Dopfner argues that Europe’s prosperity and security are deeply tied to the outcome of the conflict and that disengagement could embolden adversaries while weakening the transatlantic alliance.