Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez has been the most outspoken in the group, calling the war "illegal" and saying it's undermining global rules. "The situation in Iran is becoming unsustainable," Slovenian prime minister Robert Golob said ahead of the meeting. Attacks on the world's largest LNG facility in Qatar overnight have heaped fresh pressure on energy prices. And with the Strait of Hormuz shuttered, energy prices have jumped, leaving governments worried about inflation, industrial slowdowns and even food supply disruptions. "We are very worried about the energy crisis," Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever said on his way into the meeting.

Source: Irish Independent March 19, 2026 14:22 UTC