A growing chorus of criticism is targeting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the government’s muted response to the recent U.S. military actions against Venezuela. Accusations of appeasement towards U.S. President Donald Trump are being levied by opposition parties, exposing a rift within German political circles over the appropriate stance towards the escalating situation.
Franziska Brantner, co-leader of the Green Party, delivered a particularly sharp rebuke, accusing Merz of “almost a denial of reality” and an eagerness to appease the U.S. President. While acknowledging the oppressive rule of Nicolás Maduro, Brantner condemned the U.S. intervention as “a page from the textbook of imperialism” highlighting the overtly declared intention to seize Venezuelan oil reserves as a blatant disregard for international law.
The criticisms extend beyond the Green Party. SPD MEP René Repasi warned that tacit acceptance of U.S. actions constitutes a profound threat to the existing world order. “If we allow the strong to stand above international law, it is the end of the rules-based world order and a return to the 19th century” Repasi stated, emphasizing the need for the European Union to firmly denounce the violation of international law. He stressed Europe’s responsibility not to be a passive bystander.
Even within the traditionally more cautious ranks of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), concerns are being voiced. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the EU Defense Committee, challenged Merz’s perceived hesitation, suggesting he should advocate for immediate, credible elections in Venezuela as a means of paving the way for a legitimate and accountable government.
The debate isn’t limited to the opposition. Michael Gahler, the CDU’s foreign policy spokesperson within the European People’s Party (EVP) in the European Parliament, while acknowledging Maduro’s illegitimacy as a “good news” development, criticized the U.S. actions as driven by “pure self-interest and factual power” creating a world divided into spheres of influence. He warned that such actions risk emboldening authoritarian regimes worldwide, encouraging them to disregard international norms and operate with impunity.
The diverging perspectives reveal a significant disagreement on Germany’s role within a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape and the delicate balance between acknowledging U.S. power while upholding international legal principles. The quiet acquiescence of Chancellor Merz is proving a lightning rod for a broader examination of Germany’s foreign policy direction and its commitment to a rules-based international order.
