Image: from Daractenus X@Daractenus
By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies | January 8, 2026
BERLIN — German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivered unusually sharp criticism of U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, warning that recent U.S. actions threaten the stability of the international system built after World War II.
Speaking at a symposium in Berlin, Steinmeier — whose role is largely ceremonial but carries moral weight — cautioned world leaders against allowing the global order to disintegrate into what he called a “den of robbers,” where powerful states take what they want without regard for rules or the sovereignty of other nations. His remarks appeared to reference recent U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, including the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro.
“Then there is the breakdown of values by our most important partner, the USA, which helped build this world order,” Steinmeier said. “It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers … where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers.”
Steinmeier described Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a historic rupture in the rules-based system. He then argued that recent U.S. conduct constitutes a second significant break, eroding faith in global norms and democratic principles.
Germany’s head of state, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that "democracy is under threat like never before", adding that there had been a “rupture of values” – not only by Russia – but also by the US. pic.twitter.com/iMbZocRhol
— DW Politics (@dw_politics) January 8, 2026
The German president did not single out specific U.S. policies by name, but his critique comes at a time of heightened tension over American unilateral actions abroad, including the dramatic Venezuelan operation that removed Maduro from power. Steinmeier’s speech emphasized the need for collective effort by the international community to protect the postwar order from fragmentation.
Steinmeier’s comments also resonated domestically. A recent poll for public broadcaster ARD found that 76% of Germans surveyed believe the United States is no longer a reliable partner, an increase from mid-2025, while only 15% said Germany could trust the U.S. This marks the lowest level of trust recorded in the regular survey.
By contrast, roughly three-quarters of those surveyed said they could rely on France and Britain as partners. Concern about European security was also high, with nearly 69% of respondents expressing worry that NATO allies cannot depend on U.S. military protection, a potentially destabilizing sentiment given America’s central role in the alliance.
Steinmeier’s speech reflects broader unease in Europe over shifting global dynamics and the perceived retreat of the United States from long-standing international commitments. While his office does not set foreign policy, the message underscores a deepening debate among Western allies about the future of the rules-based world order and Europe’s role in sustaining it.
Key Points from Steinmeier’s Remarks
• Warned that U.S. actions risk dismantling the post-World War II international order.
• Used the imagery of avoiding a world where the powerful “take whatever they want.”
• Suggested the U.S. break with values represents a second major rupture following Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
• Highlighted growing public skepticism in Germany about U.S. reliability.
Steinmeier called for active engagement by global powers, including emerging democracies, to defend international norms and prevent a slide toward unilateralism and coercive power politics.