Vatican accuses EU of selective justice on military intervention

The Vatican has accused the European Union of double standards in its application of international law regarding military conflict, according to Politico Europe. The Vatican's doctrinal chief, speaking from Rome, said the bloc sanctions some military invasions while overlooking others, a charge that underscores the Holy See's increasingly critical stance toward EU foreign policy.

The accusation marks a notable shift in Vatican rhetoric. For decades, the Church has advocated for multilateral diplomacy and international law as the framework for resolving conflicts. Now, from its seat within Rome, the Vatican is arguing that the EU itself violates the principles it claims to uphold.

The timing is significant. The Vatican's intervention comes as Italy's government, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has itself grown more distant from European consensus on military support for Ukraine and other foreign policy questions. Rome has also clashed with Washington over trade and defence spending, a rupture that has left Italy seeking new diplomatic footing within Europe.