German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul criticized the US and Israeli attacks on Iran at a ceremony in Berlin, calling the war a "breach of international law" and a "politically fateful mistake." The event marked the 75th anniversary of the post-war reformation of the German Foreign Ministry, established in 1951 after the founding of West Germany.

Wadephul acknowledged the US role in defeating Nazi Germany, rebuilding the post-war nation, and aiding reunification after the Cold War, but warned of "new epochal challenges" due to the increasingly erratic foreign policy of the Trump administration in its second term. He argued that "our own security is possibly in more concrete danger than it ever was in the last 75 years," citing an aggressive Russia and escalating tensions with the core ally, the US.

Steinmeier, whose ceremonial role as head of state involves voicing "hard truths," took a more critical stance on Middle Eastern developments, stating that "this war is, by my estimation, a breach of international law." He emphasized that diplomatic avenues, such as the JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran that Trump scrapped, could have been more effective in curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, calling the conflict an "unnecessary war."

The ceremony commemorated the reestablishment of the Foreign Ministry in Bonn, the then-capital of West Germany, on March 15, 1951, a symbolic step in the rehabilitation of German politics post-World War II. Initially, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer also served as foreign minister, highlighting the role's significance in regaining international standing.

The remarks by German leaders reflect growing unease in Europe over the unpredictability of US foreign policy under the Trump regime, posing new challenges for security and diplomatic stability on the continent, particularly with ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Source: www.dw.com