Daily Germany

Steinmeier attacks US on Iran war: 'No reason' to align with Trump

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday sharply criticized the US-Israeli war on Iran as a violation of international law, saying there is "no reason" for Germany to align itself with the administration of US President Donald Trump.

The conflict was "a politically disastrous mistake" and "a truly avoidable, unnecessary war, if its aim was to stop Iran on the path to an atomic bomb," Steinmeier told an audience attending an event in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Foreign Office after World War II.

The Iran war is "contrary to international law," the German president stressed, adding there was little doubt that Washington's justification of an imminent attack on the United States is not supported.

Iran had never been further away from a nuclear armament than after the 2015 nuclear deal, he said. Steinmeier was involved in that agreement as foreign minister at the time. Trump terminated it during his first term as president.

Sharp words for Trump

The German president criticized the new orientation of the Trump administration, arguing not only that Germany doesn't need to follow along but that even with a new US administration, the trans-Atlantic relationship is irrevocably changed.

"The rupture and the lost trust in American great power politics runs too deep," he said. Even a future US administration "will not simply be able to pick up again the role of the friendly hegemon" and of a guarantor of a liberal international order, he said.

"The current American administration has a different world view from ours, one that takes no account of established rules, partnerships and trust built up over time," Steinmeier said. While this had to be dealt with, "we have no reason whatsoever to align ourselves with this world view," he said.

Instead, the trans-Atlantic relationship must also "free itself from dependencies that make us vulnerable."

This applies first and foremost to security and technology, according to the president.

Dependence in the technological sphere means not only foreign policy power, he said, "but also the power to use digital platforms and social media to influence ... our domestic policy."

German foreign policy is now facing a fundamental reorientation, Steinmeier said.
Source: Daily Finland

European allies refuse Trump's call for military mission in Hormuz

Multiple European nations and the European Union (EU) on Monday voiced reluctance or outright opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's call for a military mission to ensure safe shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, reported Xinhua.

Stressing the need for diplomatic solutions and warning against further regional escalation, European leaders underscored that the current conflict should not evolve into a NATO mission or draw the continent into a broader war.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out any military involvement in protecting oil tankers in the strait, emphasizing that NATO is a "defense alliance" rather than an "intervention alliance."

Merz said Germany will not participate in military measures to ensure freedom of navigation as long as the conflict continues, adding that no viable concept for such an operation has been presented so far.

His remarks were echoed in Brussels by EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas. After a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Kallas stated the bloc has no appetite for expanding its existing naval mission "Aspides" to the Strait of Hormuz.

"We are working on the diplomatic solutions for the Strait of Hormuz," she said, adding, "This is not Europe's war."

In Southern Europe, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said Portugal "is not and will not be involved in this conflict."

Rising fuel prices increase interest in electric cars in Germany

The rise in petrol prices due to the Iran war has increased German customer interest in electric cars, the online platforms Carwow and Meinauto.de confirmed to dpa on Wednesday upon request.

"Rising oil prices are having a direct impact on interest in electric cars. Our data shows: Since February 28, the share of electric car set-ups has increased from 55% to up to 63% over the weekend," said Philipp Sayler von Amende, chief executive of Carwow Germany.

On average over the week, electric cars are at around 59%. He said this shows that many consumers are reacting to rising fuel costs.

Meinauto.de said it has recorded a significantly increased interest in topics related to cheaper driving. Offers and content on alternative fuels such as electric and E20, as well as guides on saving fuel, are currently being accessed more frequently than average, a spokesman said.

No decline in interest in mobility

While electric cars are gaining ground, traditional engines are slightly losing demand, according to Carwow.

"Petrol and diesel models together only account for around 23% of set-ups and are thus below the level of the end of February. Hybrids, on the other hand, remain relatively stable at about 15%," explained Carwow chief executive Sayler von Amende.

According to Meinauto.de, there is no overall decline in interest in mobility. However, when it comes to the specific purchase decision, there is a certain hesitation. "We are currently noticing that some interested parties are postponing their decision for a new car and are initially waiting to see how energy prices and the geopolitical situation develop," the spokesman stressed.

€1,500 to €6,000 subsidy

In January, the German Environment Ministry announced that private customers could again receive a state subsidy when purchasing pure electric cars, plug-in hybrids and electric cars with range extenders.

Depending on the type of vehicle and personal circumstances, it ranges between €1,500 and €6,000.

However, there are income limits up to which it is paid: €80,000 household income per year, or €90,000 with two children.

Carwow and Meinauto.de confirmed that customer interest surged shortly after the announcement of the new subsidy.

Thousands of school-age children protest new German military service

Thousands of school-age children took to the streets across Germany on Thursday to protest the country's new military service law, reported dpa.

The "school strike against conscription" drew up to 50,000 participants nationwide, organizers said.

After months of deliberations, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration passed a law late last year to bring back military service - initially in a voluntary capacity - in an effort to boost troop numbers.

All teenagers are to receive a questionnaire after turning 18 as a first step to assess their suitability and motivation to serve in the military. Men are required to fill out the form, while it is voluntary for women.

In Berlin, young people gathered at Potsdamer Platz and marched to Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg. Police counted around 3,000 participants, while organizers said 6,000 joined.

Banners called on Merz to head to the front, while demonstrators chanted "never, never, never again conscription."

There were also demonstrations in many other cities. According to the police, around 600 young people took to the streets in Munich.

In the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, larger rallies were planned in Bonn and Dusseldorf, while in Hamburg, schoolchildren were set to demonstrate in the late afternoon.

The new military service law, which took effect on January 1, is a response to the threat posed by Russia, with Germany lagging in its NATO recruitment targets.

The programme is intended to assist in raising troop levels from 180,000 to 260,000, with an additional reserve force due to reach 200,000.

Lufthansa flight to Riyadh diverted to Cairo due to safety concerns

A Lufthansa flight from Munich to Riyadh was forced to divert to Cairo on Friday due to safety concerns amid the conflict in the Middle East, reported dpa.

The captain decided to divert to Cairo after consulting with headquarters, said Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr in Frankfurt.

"Safety comes first," he added.

According to Lufthansa, the Saudi capital's airport was closed at the time of approach.

The fully booked return flight from Saudi Arabia is still set to take place, albeit with a delay.

The few passengers on the outbound flight disembarked in Cairo and were then rebooked.

The Airbus A350-900 was scheduled to land at the reopened airport in Riyadh on Friday evening to complete the return flight. It is expected to arrive in Munich on Saturday morning.

Spohr said that such situations would be seen more frequently in the coming weeks due to the tense security situation in the region.

Up to 30,000 holidaymakers travelling with German tour operators were left stranded in the Middle East after the outbreak of the war in Iran last week.

The German government is organizing evacuation flights from Oman and Riyadh, while limited commercial services have resumed from the United Arab Emirates.

The affected Lufthansa flight was not an evacuation operation.