The U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan following the 2001 attacks on America by Al Qaeda triggered massive refugee flows to Europe, with Germany emerging as a key destination for asylum seekers. Far-right entities such as Alternative for Germany — now the largest opposition party — capitalized on rising anti-immigration sentiment to fuel their political rise.
At the same time, Merz said, his government is in no position to lecture the U.S. given the failures of Europe’s own approach to Iran and Germany’s need to work with U.S. President Donald Trump to secure an end to the war in Ukraine.
Merz said he “appreciated the important negotiating work” the U.S. is conducting with Russia under Trump to end the war in Ukraine, and said he hoped for “even closer” transatlantic relations to bring an end to the conflict.
“Anyone who wants security, peace and justice in the Middle East must also want it in Europe,” Merz said. “That is why the German government is providing a large part of the support for Ukraine against Russian aggression as part of transatlantic burden-sharing. And that is why we are not lecturing our partners on their military strikes against Iran,” he added.
“We want to work with them to establish a peaceful order with the necessary degree of realism, both in the Middle East and in Europe.”