Photo: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Reuters file photo)
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has delivered a rare and sharp criticism of U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, warning that it is contributing to the erosion of the global order. He cautioned that the world risks turning into a place where the most ruthless actors seize whatever they desire. Describing such a scenario as a “den of robbers,” Steinmeier urged the international community to act collectively to safeguard the global system.
His remarks are widely seen as a reference to recent developments, including the events surrounding efforts to unseat Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last week. Although such blunt statements are unusual for a German head of state, the former foreign minister warned that global democracy is under attack in ways never seen before.
While the role of Germany’s president is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s words carry weight, as the office allows greater freedom of expression than that of elected politicians bound by day-to-day party politics.
Steinmeier pointed to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a first major rupture in the post-war international order. He suggested that recent U.S. behavior may signal a second historic fracture.
Speaking at a symposium on Wednesday night, Steinmeier said, “And then comes the role of our most important partner, the United States—a country that once helped build this global order.”
He added, “This is about preventing the world from becoming a den of robbers, where the most ruthless take everything they want, where entire regions or even countries are treated as the property of a few powerful states.”
Public opinion in Germany appears to reflect growing unease. A survey published on Thursday by public broadcaster ARD found that 76 percent of Germans no longer consider the United States a reliable partner, an increase of three percentage points compared with June 2025.
The poll also showed that only 15 percent of respondents believe Germany can currently rely on the United States—a record low since such surveys began. By contrast, nearly three-quarters of respondents said they believe Germany can depend on France and the United Kingdom.
Additionally, 69 percent of Germans expressed concern about Europe’s security, with a similar proportion saying that NATO member states can no longer rely on security guarantees from the alliance’s most powerful member, the United States.
Source: Reuters.