German President Warns of ‘Den of Robbers’ World Order, Slams U.S. Foreign Policy

BERLIN : German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday issued a strong warning against the direction of U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, saying the global rules-based order is in danger of collapsing into a “den of robbers” where power politics override international law.

Speaking at a high-level symposium in Berlin, Steinmeier said the post-World War II international system is facing its most serious challenge in decades, with democracy, multilateralism, and shared values under sustained pressure. His remarks represented one of the harshest critiques yet by a senior European head of state of Washington’s recent actions on the global stage.

Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier — a former foreign minister with long diplomatic experience — is regarded as a moral authority in foreign affairs and enjoys greater freedom to speak openly than serving government officials. As a result, his words carry significant political and symbolic weight both in Europe and beyond.

A Second Historic Rupture

Steinmeier described Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a historic watershed that fundamentally altered European security. He said the current conduct of the United States now represents a second major rupture in the foundations of the international order.

“There is the breakdown of values by our most important partner, the United States, which helped build this world order,” Steinmeier said. “It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, and where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers.”

Democracy ‘Under Attack as Never Before’

Without naming specific operations, Steinmeier appeared to allude to recent U.S. actions abroad, including developments involving Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, which have triggered international criticism and renewed debate over sovereignty and legitimacy.

He warned that global democracy is being challenged “as never before,” citing the erosion of democratic norms, the rise of unilateralism, and the weakening of institutions designed to prevent conflict and restrain the use of force.

Call for Shared Global Responsibility

Steinmeier urged Europe and other democratic powers not to remain passive, stressing that defending the rules-based international system cannot depend on a single nation. He called on established and emerging powers alike to take greater responsibility for upholding international law, protecting smaller states, and resisting a return to spheres of influence.

His remarks come amid growing concern in European capitals about the future of transatlantic relations and fears that intensifying great-power rivalry could undermine decades of diplomatic stability and economic cooperation.

As global tensions rise, Steinmeier’s intervention highlighted a core anxiety in Berlin: that without renewed commitment to shared rules and values, the world risks sliding toward an international system governed by force, not law.