The Israel-Hezbollah war of 2006 reminded the Union, once again, that its strategic interests do not always coincide perfectly with those of the United States. Because the Bush administration took a “hands off” approach to the Israel-Hezbollah war in south Lebanon, and given the military straitjacket the US finds itself in because of the Iraq war, the EU had to take the lead.
2006年以色列和真主党之间的战争再一次提醒欧盟，其战略利益并不一定总是与美国的完全吻合。由于布什政府放任南黎巴嫩战争，而且由于伊拉克战争美国的军力捉襟见肘，因此欧盟不得不采取主导立场。