Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) has stated that Germany’s foreign policy should not be based solely on international law. Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (Saturday edition), Wadephul remarked, “Although international law always provides the framework, it is not the only standard by which we should guide our foreign policy.”
The Minister explained that other factors, such as economic interests and alliance systems, must also be taken into account. He asserted that foreign policy sometimes requires a pragmatic view of what benefits both Germany and Europe.
These statements come amid ongoing criticism directed at the German government, particularly regarding its approach to Israel in Gaza and Lebanon. Critics have accused the government of applying international legal standards inconsistently when comparing these situations to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
