German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has delivered an unusually sharp rebuke of U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, warning against allowing the world order to collapse into what he described as a “den of robbers” dominated by the unscrupulous.
In remarks that appeared to reference recent developments – including moves seen as targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro – the former foreign minister said global democracy was under greater threat than at any point in recent history.
While the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s words carry political weight, and the role affords him greater latitude to speak openly than elected politicians.
Pointing to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a historic turning point, Steinmeier said Washington’s conduct now marked a second historic rupture.
“Then there is the breakdown of values by our most important partner, the USA, which helped build this world order,” Steinmeier said in remarks at a symposium late on Wednesday.
“It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers,” he said.
Public opinion in Germany appears to reflect growing unease. A poll published on Thursday by public broadcaster ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition) found that 76 percent of respondents no longer viewed the United States as a reliable partner – an increase of three percentage points since June 2025. Just 15 percent said Germany could trust Washington, the lowest level recorded since the survey began.
In contrast, roughly three-quarters of those surveyed said they still considered France and Britain dependable allies.
The poll also found that 69 percent of Germans were concerned about security in Europe, with a similar proportion expressing doubts that NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) members could rely on protection from the United States, the alliance’s most powerful member.