Overview
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in a Berlin speech Tuesday, called the U.S.-led Iran war a breach of international law and a politically disastrous mistake.
- He said Donald Trump’s second term marks a rupture in transatlantic relations as profound as Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with no return to the pre‑2025 status quo.
- Arguing that Germany must cut excessive dependencies on the U.S., he urged more European capacity in defense and technology.
- He cited the Pentagon–Anthropic dispute over AI safety guardrails as a wake-up call, saying Europe should build on its talent, large markets, and clear ethical standards.
- The remarks diverged from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s more cautious stance, while Deutsche Welle also quoted Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul praising decades of U.S. support even as he warned of today’s strains; Reuters noted China retook Germany’s top trading-partner spot in early 2025, underscoring pressure to diversify.