The most recent departure took place at the highest level. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the president of Germany, spared no criticism of his North American counterpart in a speech given to the diplomatic corps on Tuesday. “This war is also — and please forgive me for saying this, as someone directly involved — a politically disastrous mistake. And that is what frustrates me most. A truly avoidable, unnecessary war if its objective was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.”he said. Steinmeier referred to his involvement because, as head of German diplomacy at the time, he was one of those involved in the nuclear agreement between Iran and the international community, signed in 2015.
The German president also recalled the obvious — the violation of international law — and downplayed the threat posed by Iran. “There is little doubt that, in any case, the justification for an imminent attack on the USA does not hold up.” In conclusion: “Just as I believe there will not be a return to relations with Russia as they were before February 24, 2022, I also believe there will not be a return to transatlantic relations as they were before January 20, 2025.”he said in reference to the invasion of Ukraine by Putin’s army and the day of Trump’s inauguration.
The man who is considered the most Atlanticist of all chancellors, Friedrich Merz, had already lost his illusions. Even before taking office, and in the face of shocking statements from the Trump administration, in particular from JD Vance, the Christian Democrat declared that it was the government’s priority to “strengthen Europe as quickly as possible, so that, step by step, independence from the USA can be achieved”. Still, Merz has tried to maintain as much balance as possible.
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