Norbert Röttgen, the deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, stated that he sees no scope for German or European involvement in the Iran conflict. Speaking to RTL and ntv, he added, “I don’t see where there could be room for us to support this in such an acute situation.” This stance contrasts with demands from US President Donald Trump for greater support from NATO partners. Trump had previously expressed disappointment with Germany, France, and Italy, critical that allied nations had not provided sufficient support to the US during the Iran conflict.
Röttgen emphasized that Europe was not involved in the decision to start or end the war. “It is a war chosen by the United States and Israel. We were not asked. It is a war concluded by the United States against the objection of Israel. We were not asked about that either.”
In Röttgen’s view, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz must manage the conflict with Washington through diplomatic channels. He argued that “the federal government, and the Chancellor in particular, must navigate our country and the NATO alliance through this Trump presidency.” However, he reported that he had not heard any specific demands from Trump directed at Germany, stating, “I have not heard him say: Do this or that.”
