The SPD has rejected US President Donald Trump’s criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Germany’s stance in the Middle‑East conflict.
In a statement to the “Tagesspiegel”‘s Sunday edition, SPD foreign‑policy spokesperson Adis Ahmetovic said it remains right to steer clear of the war. He added that the United States had consulted no partners before launching the attack on Iran and that the current conflict is not only illegal but also lacks clearly defined objectives, an exit plan or a post‑war strategy.
Earlier, Trump had criticized Merz for Germany’s perceived lack of support in securing the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a conference in Miami, Florida, Trump first targeted NATO allies France and the United Kingdom and then turned to Germany, saying, in his words, “The German Chancellor-my friends-Friedrich-he said that is not our war”. He later claimed that the Ukraine war was not a US war either.
The SPD’s parliamentary group stated it is not ready to send German soldiers into “such a heavenly command”. European NATO partners have, however, laid out the conditions under which they would consider support: it would only come after the fighting in the Strait of Hormuz had ceased, under an international mandate. Ahmetovic noted that the United States could play a decisive role in ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, provided it raises diplomatic pressure on Putin.
According to the SPD foreign‑policy spokesperson, the so‑called Western alliance can be strong “if it has the political will for unity, and if partnership does not mean subservience”. He added that this would only be possible if the credibility of the rules‑based order is preserved.
