The conflict between the US–Israel and Iran is escalating, with strikes reported between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
A drone hit the runway of a British air force base in Cyprus on Monday and three US warplanes were shot down accidentally by Kuwait.
Speaking earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the "only lasting solution is a diplomatic one".
European Politics Professor at Maynooth University, John O'Brennan, told Behind the Story the EU is facing yet another crisis.
"The European Union, whenever it was confronted with an external crisis, it found itself divided," he said.
"What the EU is in at the moment is completely reactive mode – it's very clear that they weren’t informed in advance about the US-Israeli attack.
"Now they’re struggling to get any purchase I think on the events on the ground".
'A political pygmy’
Prof O'Brennan said the EU has a limited voice when it comes to the Middle East.
"It is, to quote a well-known cliché, an economic giant but a political pygmy," he said.
He says that that EU is divided on how to respond to the crisis - with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez being the only one to come out and unequivocally condemn the US action.
Prof O'Brennan said the conflict also presents problems as Ireland takes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July 1st.
"Cyprus holds the presidency of the EU… as we take up the EU presidency in July – succeeding Cyprus – we’re in such a volatile international climate that we don’t know what kind of new geopolitical crisis we might be hit with," he said.
"I think Cyprus demonstrates clearly that the EU is in the line of fire, but there are divisions within the member states about how to proceed."
RTÉ News Business Journalist Adam Maguire also joined Fran and Maggie to discuss how the conflict could hit your pocket if the price of oil and petrol rise amid affected shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz - a critical waterway bordered by Iran and Oman.
You can listen to Behind the Story which is available on the RTÉ Radio Player.
You can also find episodes on Apple here, or on Spotify here.
