While other European leaders initially described the US-Israel strikes on Iran as illegal, Germany at first refrained from criticism, reports Sky News. In the early days following the military actions, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated there was no reason to criticize the strikes.
However, the situation shifted with remarks from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who declared the war to be a “violation of international law.” Despite his largely ceremonial role, Steinmeier’s words carry significant weight in Germany. He emphasized that “the justification for a near strike against the US does not hold,” aligning more closely with assessments from Madrid than Berlin.
Steinmeier described the US-Israel operation as a “politically catastrophic mistake” and “a truly avoidable and unnecessary war if its goal was to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.”
These statements go further than Chancellor Merz’s position, although Merz has also grown more critical of the operation in recent weeks.
The German president also warned of worsening transatlantic relations since the return of Donald Trump to the White House, comparing it to Germany’s strained relations with Russia. He argued that the US administration has adopted an approach “that shows little respect for established rules, partnership, or trust earned through effort.”
“Division is very deep, and confidence in American power politics has been lost, not only among our allies but worldwide,” Steinmeier added in a speech to German diplomats in Berlin.
He is not alone in this view. Reports indicate that the ongoing flow of insults, threats, and tariffs from Washington since January 2025 has led many in the EU to see the relationship as increasingly toxic and unreliable, highlighting European unity as the best way to cope.
