Jan van Aken, the chair of the Left Party, said on Friday that the United States allowing the sale of Russian crude on the high seas for the next 30 days is a “double wrong signal”. He pointed out that while Russia is waging a war that violates international law and bombarding Iran, oil prices have already spiked. “So what’s next? The American response, in effect, is: Russia’s unlawful war matters to us. They can now sell their oil” van Aken told the broadcasters RTL and ntv. He argued that this approach gives primacy to the stronger power, implying that a country with more force can bombard other nations and ignore global repercussions.
The Left leader also condemned Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s stance toward U.S. President Donald Trump. Van Aken criticized Merz for his behaviour in the White House, saying it was embarrassing. “When Trump is inciting hostility toward other EU states, including Spain, Merz sits on his lap, smiles, and nods. That is wholly unacceptable”.
