Friedrich Merz Bids Farewell to International Law
Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 2 March 2026
by Christine Dankbar (link to
original)
The chancellor opts for realpolitik in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, instead of pursuing a values-driven approach to foreign policy. A commentary.
When he commented on the attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel on Sunday, Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union party) had already set the tone for his Tuesday visit to the Oval Office. This tone could be described as sober and resigned. Merz said the situation in the Middle East had been analyzed and that conclusions were now being drawn about how to act. These have far-reaching implications for German foreign policy.
Merz is decidedly critical of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, saying, “The threshold into an uncertain future has been crossed.” He also stressed Germany’s shared interest in “bringing the terror of this regime to an end and stopping its dangerous nuclear and ballistic rearmament.” The military strikes, however, were described as, “not without risk. We do not know to what extent harsh Iranian counterstrikes could further escalate the region.”
Realpolitik in an Era of Might Makes Right
Merz said that Germany takes the concerns of its partners in Iran’s immediate neighborhood in the Gulf and in Europe very seriously and calls on the mullah regime to “cease these indiscriminate attacks immediately.” The country’s own partners are exempted from criticism, not out of conviction but for reasons of realpolitik that Merz also outlines. “Legal classifications under international law will have relatively limited impact — especially if they remain largely without consequences,” Merz said.
The chancellor remarked that appeals from Europe, including from Germany; condemnation of Iranian violations of law; and even extensive sanctions packages have achieved little over decades. One reason for that was that “we have not been prepared to enforce fundamental interests, if necessary, by military means.” Therefore, this is not the moment “to lecture our partners and allies.” This shows that Merz is not prepared to defend international law or any kind of values-driven foreign policy during his time in Washington. Accordingly, he is sticking to the course he outlined in previous statements, speeches and interviews: You can make political decisions with the best intentions, but anyone who lacks the means to implement them will fail. He’s attempting to pursue realpolitik in a world where might increasingly makes right.
Merz is therefore sure to bring up the war in Ukraine while in Washington. Seen in the light of each country defending its own interests, this is of greater importance for Europe. On Sunday, the chancellor hinted at a division of responsibilities, with the U.S. focusing on the Middle East while Europe focuses on Ukraine. Merz called it “trans-Atlantic burden-sharing.”
According to Merz, Russia’s war is every bit as unjust as the actions of the Iranian regime: “Russia’s war is just as indefensible as Tehran’s terror campaign against Israel.” Berlin is therefore continuing to work with full determination for a just peace for Ukraine.
That shouldn’t ruffle any feathers in the Oval Office. After all, Trump has repeatedly made clear that he views the war as essentially a European issue. The fact that U.S. forces are now tied up in the Middle East is likely to reinforce this view.
When he commented on the attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel on Sunday, Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Christian Democratic Union party) had already set the tone for his Tuesday visit to the Oval Office. This tone could be described as sober and resigned. Merz said the situation in the Middle East had been analyzed and that conclusions were now being drawn about how to act. These have far-reaching implications for German foreign policy.
Merz is decidedly critical of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, saying, “The threshold into an uncertain future has been crossed.” He also stressed Germany’s shared interest in “bringing the terror of this regime to an end and stopping its dangerous nuclear and ballistic rearmament.” The military strikes, however, were described as, “not without risk. We do not know to what extent harsh Iranian counterstrikes could further escalate the region.”
Realpolitik in an Era of Might Makes Right
Merz said that Germany takes the concerns of its partners in Iran’s immediate neighborhood in the Gulf and in Europe very seriously and calls on the mullah regime to “cease these indiscriminate attacks immediately.” The country’s own partners are exempted from criticism, not out of conviction but for reasons of realpolitik that Merz also outlines. “Legal classifications under international law will have relatively limited impact — especially if they remain largely without consequences,” Merz said.
The chancellor remarked that appeals from Europe, including from Germany; condemnation of Iranian violations of law; and even extensive sanctions packages have achieved little over decades. One reason for that was that “we have not been prepared to enforce fundamental interests, if necessary, by military means.” Therefore, this is not the moment “to lecture our partners and allies.” This shows that Merz is not prepared to defend international law or any kind of values-driven foreign policy during his time in Washington. Accordingly, he is sticking to the course he outlined in previous statements, speeches and interviews: You can make political decisions with the best intentions, but anyone who lacks the means to implement them will fail. He’s attempting to pursue realpolitik in a world where might increasingly makes right.
Merz is therefore sure to bring up the war in Ukraine while in Washington. Seen in the light of each country defending its own interests, this is of greater importance for Europe. On Sunday, the chancellor hinted at a division of responsibilities, with the U.S. focusing on the Middle East while Europe focuses on Ukraine. Merz called it “trans-Atlantic burden-sharing.”
According to Merz, Russia’s war is every bit as unjust as the actions of the Iranian regime: “Russia’s war is just as indefensible as Tehran’s terror campaign against Israel.” Berlin is therefore continuing to work with full determination for a just peace for Ukraine.
That shouldn’t ruffle any feathers in the Oval Office. After all, Trump has repeatedly made clear that he views the war as essentially a European issue. The fact that U.S. forces are now tied up in the Middle East is likely to reinforce this view.
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