Christoph Heusgen, formerly the German ambassador to the United Nations, attributed Germany’s failure in the UN Security Council election to the Federal Government’s tendency to apply inconsistent international standards. He told Spiegel that the “relativization of international law has cost us credibility and votes”.
Heusgen used the policy toward the Middle East, specifically mentioning the stance of CDU leader Friedrich Merz, as an example. While acknowledging that Israeli security is part of Germany’s core national interest, he argued that this does not mean Germany must accept or support everything the Israeli government does. According to the former foreign and security policy advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany cannot claim to serve Israeli security while remaining silent when Israel allegedly breaches international law.
Heusgen strongly advised the Federal Government to pay closer attention to the voices from within Israel that demand Germany hold the Israeli government more strictly accountable to international legal principles, given Germany’s large historical responsibility. He believes it is high time the government fundamentally re-examined its approach.
He suggested that when assessing the actions of other nations-whether it be the United States or others-Germany should refer to its own Basic Law. Citing Article 25, Heusgen stated that “the general rules of international law are part of federal law”. He stressed that Germany must not relativize international law but must always adhere to its fundamental principles.
Regarding the political actions of US President Trump, Heusgen advised Germany to always react in coordination with its European partners. He pointed to the dispute between the US and Denmark over Greenland as an illustration: when the EU acts united, it becomes a significant power factor, and countries should refrain from unilateral actions. Finally, he concluded that Germany should critically question its own positions when a shared stance fails due to other nations insisting on adherence to international law principles.
