US Foreign Policy Threatens to Destroy Global Order, Warns German President

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has delivered a scathing critique of United States foreign policy, warning that the current path could lead to the complete destruction of the global order.

Speaking on Wednesday evening (January 7), Steinmeier cautioned that the world risks turning into a "den of robbers" where unprincipled powers seize territories at will. He characterized the conduct of the Trump administration as a destabilizing force, noting that while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine created a historical rupture, the collapse of shared values from their primary partner, the United States, represents a second massive shock to global stability.

During his speech, Steinmeier emphasized the urgent need to prevent the world from becoming a place where sovereign nations are treated as the private property of a few superpowers. His remarks were widely interpreted as a direct response to the Trump administration’s recent international interventions, particularly in Venezuela. He stressed that international law must prevail over the whims of individual powerful nations to avoid global anarchy.

Reinforcing the President's concerns, a poll conducted by German public broadcaster ARD revealed a record-low level of public trust in the United States. According to the survey, 76% of Germans no longer consider the US a reliable partner, with only 15% still maintaining faith in the transatlantic alliance. In contrast, nearly three-quarters of respondents expressed confidence in France and the UK. Furthermore, 69% of Germans voiced anxiety regarding European security, believing that NATO members can no longer count on the protection of the alliance’s strongest member, the United States.