German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier sharply criticized US and Israeli policies, deeming a war with Iran a “fatal mistake” during a speech on March 24th.
German President on Relations with the US
Steinmeier believes there is no reason for Europe and Germany to align with the worldview of the Donald Trump administration. He stated that relations with the US require “freeing ourselves from dependencies that make us vulnerable to threats,” including technological dependence that could influence domestic policy through digital platforms and social media.
President’s Position on International Law
Steinmeier agreed that German foreign policy should be more pragmatic, but emphasized this shouldn’t mean “ignoring international law.” He asserted that German foreign policy won’t be more convincing if violations of international law aren’t named as such, warning that the European Union “would fall apart if we adopted a worldview based on brute force.”
Steinmeier Negotiated Iran Nuclear Deal
Over a decade ago, Steinmeier, then Germany’s Foreign Minister, was a key negotiator of the international nuclear agreement with Iran, aimed at controlling its nuclear program. The deal, opposed by Israel from the start, was reached in 2015 under Barack Obama’s presidency. In 2018, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the agreement.
German Chancellor’s Stance
Friedrich Merz is refraining from labeling US and Israeli actions as violations of international law. Instead, the German Chancellor is urging the United States and Israel to present a plan for ending the war with Iran, emphasizing that Berlin is not interested in an “endless war.”
French General: US Ally Increasingly Unpredictable
The head of the French Armed Forces General Staff, General Fabien Mandon, also criticized US actions, stating that the US ally is “increasingly unpredictable” and doesn’t bother to inform France before launching military operations. This impacts French security and interests.
US Intervention Without Prior Notice
Mandon noted that the United States decided to intervene in the Middle East without informing France, which was “surprised” by the American move. He also admitted that “Europe is no longer a priority” for the US.