{"id":2591717,"date":"2026-04-16T18:49:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T22:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-years-of-depending-on-others-the-european-welfare-state-faces-fuel-crisis-flight-cancellations-amid-hormuz-closure\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T18:52:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T22:52:04","slug":"after-years-of-depending-on-others-the-european-welfare-state-faces-fuel-crisis-flight-cancellations-amid-hormuz-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-years-of-depending-on-others-the-european-welfare-state-faces-fuel-crisis-flight-cancellations-amid-hormuz-closure\/","title":{"rendered":"After Years of Depending on Others, the European Welfare State Faces Fuel Crisis, Flight Cancellations Amid Hormuz Closure"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fafter-years-of-depending-on-others-the-european-welfare-state-faces-fuel-crisis-flight-cancellations-amid-hormuz-closure%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2591717&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Europe could face a severe jet-fuel shortage in the near term as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Iran conflict threaten global supplies,with the IEA warning that jet fuel may run out within weeks if disruptions continue. The piece argues that decades of relying on external supply and U.S.-led security under NATO have left Europe unprepared for such a disruption, raising the prospect of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/airlines-triple-pay-for-pilots-double-for-flight-attendants-amid-widespread-cancellations\/\" title=\"Airlines Triple Pay For Pilots, Double For Flight Attendants Amid Widespread Cancellations\">widespread flight cancellations<\/a> and economic strain.It critiques European leaders for not diversifying or securing critical imports, contrasts Europe\u2019s posture with Israel\u2019s proactive stance, and provocatively questions the durability of Europe\u2019s alliance with the U.S.,suggesting Europe reconsider its dependence and role within NATO.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Europe is staring down a reality that its leaders should have seen coming from miles away.<\/p>\n<p>The continent that once projected power across oceans now may not have enough jet fuel to keep planes in the air.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-war-europe-jet-fuel-flight-cancellations-birol-6e67fafd493861b3858de5548aa77703?taid=69e0c210d30a260001cd93b0&amp;utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&amp;utm_medium=AP&amp;utm_source=Twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">According to<\/a> the Associated Press, the head of the International Energy Agency warned Thursday that Europe has &ldquo;maybe 6 weeks or so (of) jet fuel left.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>This is the reality for a continent that has built its modern identity on relying on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-gets-nato-chief-admit-us-carried-much-burden-defense-spending-changes-today\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the generosity of others<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol did not sugar-coat the situation. He warned that if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked amid the Iran war, flight cancellations could begin &ldquo;soon.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadAnyclip() { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst container=document.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!container) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=\"https:\/\/player.anyclip.com\/anyclip-widget\/lre-widget\/prod\/v1\/src\/lre.js\"; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"pubname\", \"westernjournalcom\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"widgetname\", \"001w000001jULVcAAO_M12924\");  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ append inside the container so player shows in correct spot \t\t\t\t\t\tcontainer.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadAnyclip(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #anyclipvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#anyclipvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Can you imagine a Europe where planes are not only grounded, but life is so disrupted that people stop driving? It&rsquo;s not too difficult to picture, if you really think about it.<\/p>\n<p>This is what happens when the nations that once shaped the world decide they would rather be comfortable than anything else.<\/p>\n<p>What is even more tragic is that countries such as Britain, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy have been anything but passive players in history.<\/p>\n<p>They sent ships across the globe, they built empires, and imposed their will on continents.<\/p>\n<p>Now, they can&rsquo;t even ensure steady access to fuel.<\/p>\n<p>Birol called the situation &ldquo;the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,&rdquo; and he is not talking about some faraway futuristic threat.<\/p>\n<p>He is talking about right now. He is warning about flights being canceled because Europe may literally run out of jet fuel.<\/p>\n<p>Europe brought this on itself. The Strait of Hormuz did not suddenly become an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >important shipping lane overnight<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It has always been a choke point and vulnerable because of where it sits. The Iranian regime has always had the ability to use it for leverage.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, Europe &mdash; with all its institutions, alliances, and endless bureaucracies &mdash; somehow failed to prepare for this scenario.<\/p>\n<p>Or worse, these welfare kings and queens chose not to prepare for anything, and assumed that the Americans would handle it.<\/p>\n<p>They leaned on the fantasy that nothing would ever seriously disrupt their carefully managed comforts and supply lines.<\/p>\n<p>Now that fantasy is collapsing.<\/p>\n<p>Birol warned that allowing Iran&rsquo;s &ldquo;toll booth&rdquo; system in the Strait, if enacted, could set a dangerous precedent for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arnold-schwarzenegger-rages-leaders-who-oppose-woke-climate-orthodoxy-stupid-or-liars\/\" title=\"Arnold Schwarzenegger Rages: Leaders Who Oppose Woke Climate Orthodoxy &#039;Stupid or Liars&#039;\">global shipping<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If we change it once, it may be difficult to get it back,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>This would be about the time you would expect European jets to start pummeling Iran into behaving, but they won&rsquo;t.<\/p>\n<p>Compare these countries to an ally like Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Love her or hate her, Israel does not wait around hoping problems will solve themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Israel recognizes threats and takes action. Do you think Israel would be caught this unprepared?<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s impossible to imagine.<\/p>\n<p>Europe, which has been protected for decades under the NATO umbrella funded by the U.S., is exposed.<\/p>\n<p>What exactly has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-planning-punishment-nato-countries-didnt-help-iran-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">our investment<\/a> in Europe&rsquo;s comfort bought anyone on this side of the pond?<\/p>\n<p>Apparently, just a collection of countries that can&rsquo;t secure their own basic needs.<\/p>\n<p>Europe is America&rsquo;s spoiled adult child that is incapable of doing anything without begging Daddy for money and a roof over its head, all while constantly insulting him.<\/p>\n<p>There has never been a better time to cut the cord, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/key-nato-allies-spurn-trumps-strait-hormuz-blockade\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leave NATO<\/a>, and let the entitled, liberal Europeans manage their own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/european-government-euthanizes-25-year-old-mentally-rape-victim-despite-fathers-pleas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">decline<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here is a paraphrase of the article content (excluding the embedded code):<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Europe faces a stark reality its leaders should have anticipated: jet fuel supplies may be critically tight, with the IEA&#8217;s Fatih Birol warning there could be only about six weeks of jet fuel left. If the Strait of Hormuz stays blocked due to the Iran conflict, flight cancellations could begin soon.<br \/>\n&#8211; The piece emphasizes that Europe built its modern identity by relying on others, and Birol doesn\u2019t soften the warning. This could be the biggest energy crisis Europe has ever faced, not a distant threat but something that could affect flights in the near future.<br \/>\n&#8211; It asks readers to imagine a Europe where planes are grounded and people stop driving-a consequence of leaders prioritizing comfort over preparedness, despite Europe\u2019s history of ambitious, assertive actions abroad.<br \/>\n&#8211; The author argues that several long-standing European powers (Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Italy) have not effectively secured reliable energy, exposing a long-standing vulnerability. Birol warns that allowing Iran to extract tolls in Hormuz would set a dangerous, hard-to-reverse precedent for global shipping.<br \/>\n&#8211; The piece contrasts Europe\u2019s current posture with Israel\u2019s, portraying Israel as decisive and proactive while Europe, protected for decades by NATO and U.S. backing, appears exposed and unprepared.<br \/>\n&#8211; It questions what the U.S. and its investment in Europe have actually bought the continent, characterizing Europe as dependent on outside support for basic needs. The text ends with a provocative call to consider cutting NATO ties and letting Europe manage its own decline.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019d like, I can also provide a shorter summary or rewrite in a different tone (more neutral, more critical, etc.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2591718,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EU-leaders-vs-gas-prices.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[77930,42627,77932,57321,77931],"class_list":["post-2591717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-europe-energy-security","tag-flight-cancellations","tag-fuel-crisis","tag-strait-of-hormuz","tag-welfare-state-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EU-leaders-vs-gas-prices.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2591717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2591717"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2591717\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2591721,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2591717\/revisions\/2591721"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2591718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2591717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2591717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2591717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}