German President: Trust in U.S. Great Power Politics Has Been Lost

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated that since U.S. President Trump began his second term, the cracks in transatlantic relations have deepened, and trust in U.S. great power politics has been lost among allies and around the world.

U.S. and Israel’s War Against Iran Violates International Law

On Tuesday in Berlin, Germany’s Foreign Ministry held an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of post-war diplomatic reforms. Steinmeier attended and delivered a speech, stating that the military strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran are undoubtedly violations of international law and are a fatal political mistake. If the goal was to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, then this military action could have been avoided and was unnecessary.

Steinmeier emphasized that the importance of international law as a framework of order, a rulebook, and a source of legitimacy remains unchanged for Germany and Europe. In transatlantic relations, Germany must free itself from dependencies that make it vulnerable.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also spoke at the same event, acknowledging the significant role the U.S. played in defeating Nazi Germany, rebuilding post-war Germany, and assisting in German reunification near the end of the Cold War. However, he warned that under President Trump’s increasingly unpredictable foreign policy in his second term, new epoch-defining challenges are emerging.