Overview
- Steinmeier, Germany’s largely ceremonial head of state, speaking in Berlin on Tuesday, called the Iran campaign a breach of international law and a “disastrous mistake.”
- He said the U.S. claim of an imminent Iranian attack “does not hold water,” challenging the core rationale for the strikes.
- He cast Trump’s second term as a rupture on par with the 2022 break with Russia, a sharper line than Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cautious stance on the war’s legality.
- He urged Germany to reduce dependence on the United States in defense and technology, arguing that lessons from cutting ties with Russian energy should now guide policy toward Washington.
- He pointed to the Pentagon–Anthropic dispute over AI safety as a chance for Europe to grow its own tech base using its talent, large market, and ethical standards, while Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned Europe must manage wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.