The story: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has condemned the top EU diplomat’s characterization of Europe as a “garden” and “most of the rest of the world” as a “jungle”—slamming the statements as “inappropriate and racist.” The condemnation has been followed by a call between Emirati chief diplomat Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (AbZ) and his EU counterpart Josep Borell to discuss ways to promote “promote peaceful coexistence and tolerance.” 

The coverage: Speaking at the opening of the EU’s new diplomatic academy in Belgium on Oct. 13, Borrell stated, “Europe is a garden…It is the best combination of political freedom, economic prosperity and social cohesion that humankind has been able to build…Most of the rest of the world is a jungle, and the jungle could invade the garden.” 

• Borrell also stated, “The gardeners have to go to the jungle. Europeans have to be much more engaged with the rest of the world. Otherwise, the rest of the world will invade us, by different ways and means.” 

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a condemnation on Oct. 17. It added that the EU’s Acting Head of Mission in the UAE...