Mediterranean Committee Meeting, Online
11th March 2026
Online meeting of the Mediterranean Committee , March 11 ,2026
Taking into account the recent developments in relation with the war in Iran, the Chair of the Mediterranean Committee John Grech took the initiative to organize an extraordinary online meeting for an exchange of views. Participants were welcomed by the SI General Coordinator Chantal Kambiwa and the Chair of the Committee John Grech . In the meeting participated also the SI Executive Vice President Paulina Lampsa , SI Vice Presidents Rawhi Fatoush from Palestine, Colette Avital from Israel, Pia Locatelli from Italy and also Dylan Boutiflat and Anass Bettaieb from France, Faraj Zayoud from Palestine , Ilhan Uzgel from Türkiye,Dimitris Oikonomou from Greece, Aisha el Gourgi from Morocco , Alvaro Hernandez from Spain.
SI STATEMENT ON THE IMPACT OF THE WAR IN IRAN ON THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION
After the war that the United States and Israel launched against Iran on February 28 , the conflict has affected at a blistering pace all the region—and beyond including the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean ,during the last decade has suffered a number of consecutive crises . Already, the war in Ukraine through the breach of international law by Russia, has transformed the Mediterranean from a relatively stable periphery into an active arena of shadow fleet warfare, great power naval maneuvering, humanitarian stress, and geopolitical competition. It has had significant and wide-ranging consequences , spanning maritime security, geopolitics, food security, and energy.
The war in Gaza followed, impacting on the Mediterranean across several interlocking dimensions — geopolitical, economic, environmental, and humanitarian. As Socialist International we have expressed consistently and timely our position on the situation in Gaza , condemning the policy of the Israeli extreme right coalition to « Conquer - Expel - Settle » and highlighting that the attempt to create a fait accompli by changing the situation on the ground is unacceptable . It is clear that the Israeli government is trying to use all means to impede the réalisation of a two state solution.
At the midst of efforts to stop the war in Gaza and advance a peace plan, the US in cooperation with Israel started the war in Iran unilaterally , without respect of the rules of international law . The region was put again in the heart of a military confrontation that has a big human toll, created a new energy crisis and will have lasting negative consequences. A new wave of refugees is a predictable outcome and the number of displaced persons in Lebanon in a few days has exceeded 800.000 .
The condamnation of the Iranian regime , the fight for democracy, respect for women rights , freedom of expression, release of political prisoners in Iran has always been a key priority for the Socialist International.As well as the condamnation of statements from high level officials to destroy the state of Israel and the key role of the Iranian regime in supported terrorist organizations and engaging in proxi wars.
However , unilateral actions in such a complex geopolitical cannot be acceptable if we believe in multilateralism and a rule based global governance . It is clear how this war can affect Ukraine, how it will be used to overshadow the voices of Israeli and Palestinians who fight for a two states solution , how a country like Lebanon may become once again a collateral damage.
In this sense , coming from the Mediterranean region , we are proud of the position of SI President Pedro Sanchez , saying no to a war that increases the global insecurity , risks to put the world in turmoil and in the end may serve only authoritarian leaders.
Because , if there is no peace in the Mediterranean there will be no peace in the world.
