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Tweets of the Week: Iran Responses, VDL in London, Megxit

By Jennifer Baker, Marlene Stocker and Michael Ball | EURACTIV.com

10-01-2020

Soleimani airstrike causes international strain, VDL heads to London by taking a plane, and Harry and Meghan decide being Royal’s a pain.

If you thought you were going to be eased gently into the 2020s, UNLUCKY, as not even three days into the new year, Donald Trump’s itchy trigger finger sent an airstrike to assassinate Iranian General, Qassem Soleimani. 

The move — said by many to be impulsive — hugely inflamed tensions in the region.

MEP Hannah Neumann wondered whether Trump even knew whom he was targeting.

Adding the warmongers have taken over.

 

Council president Charles Michel was among the first to respond, saying, “Further escalation must be avoided at all cost.”

 

On Tuesday, Damon Wake reported that British, French, German and Italian foreign ministers were all on their way to Brussels for talks on the Iran and Libya crises. 

 

But Jon Stone pointed out that “it’s pretty stark with the Iran crisis rolling on that the UK will have a seat at the table at the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on 20 January to discuss the issue, but then at the next meeting on 17 February, they just won’t be there.”

 

Teri Schultz reported that NATO Sec Gen was reluctant to express outright criticism of the US killing of Soleimani, reiterating only that many governments are concerned about Iran’s destabilizing activities.

 

Perhaps he found it difficult to put into words.

As Berlaymonster joked, perhaps the European Commission had their own problems in that regard:

Guys…

 

Elsewhere, Commission president Ursula von der Leyens had no trouble expressing herself on her first official visit to the UK. 

But what caught most attention was her mode of transport. Nikolaj Nielsen explained, she took a PLANE to Britain.  

 

Yes that’s the same Ursula von der Leyen who promoted the European Green Deal and vowed to cut carbon emissions.

Ben Utzer pointed out Brussels to London is really not worth a flight.

 

And James Crisp imagined Greta Thunberg: How dare you! 

In Britain, von der Leyen and Boris Johnson compared memories about their respective childhoods in Uccle in Brussels, and a teacher they had in common.

 

They attended the same school at different times.

“I left when you came,” said VDL to Boris. Class! approved Jack Parrock. 

 

Von der Leyen also gave a speech at the London School of Economics on the future of the EU-UK partnership.

 

Berlaymonster begged people not to jump to Brexit metaphors after the live feed broke down.

 

And Jennifer Rankin summed up the speech: “’I love the UK, let’s be best friends; but Brexit still means Brexit.’”

 

Bruno Waterfield predicted: “Positivity, sunny mood music and love bombing will be much the orchestrated sheet music for the next 3 months.”

And finally, from Brexit to Megxit… as Prince Harry and Meghan announced their plans to take a step back from their royal duties and spending more time in North America. 

 

Remo Hess quoted the press release 

… keep deep and special partnership

Remind you of anything???

 

A spoof Prince Charles account imagined a future where the couple’s son Archie, becomes King and elected as US President meaning that the US would once again be ruled by an English King

The New York Post opted for this front page:

And that’s it for this week. Join me again next Friday for more charm, schmarm and a shot in the arm of the Brussels Bubble Twittersphere.

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