German Chancellor Merz said that Washington appeared to lack a clear military strategy in Iran. He also questioned the possible ‘exit’ scenarios for the Trump administration. During a public visit in his home town region of Sauerland, Merz said:
The Iranians are clearly stronger than expected and the Americans clearly have no truly convincing strategy in the negotiations either.
Back in March the chancellor delivered a soft rebuke of similar nature, warning that:
We [in reference to European leaders] should not let the region slide into a perpetual war with unclear objectives.
This time around, Germany’s remarkably unpopular chancellor — who previously endorsed Trump — has delivered a clear rejection of Trump for allowing the US to be ‘humiliated’ by Iran. If memory serves us, Merz was the first European leader to have met with Trump in Washington. This meeting happened after initial strikes against Iran were ordered on 3 March.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Iran has appeared more resilient than the US expected and warned that the conflict is escalating without a clear exit strategy. He said an “entire nation” has been humiliated by Tehran. pic.twitter.com/trbPOON55Q
— DW News (@dwnews) April 27, 2026
Merz famously said of last year’s illegal US-Israeli attacks on Iran that “Israel is doing the dirty work for us all.”
Although Merz was wary of the rising oil prices, he sat by as Trump criticised Spain at the White House meeting.
Merz had said at the White House, expressing hope for a “new government” in Iran. Trump, in turn, said Germany had been “helpful.”
Adding that:
That’s the reason [oil prices] why we all hope that this war will come to an end as soon as possible, and we are hoping that the Israeli and the American armies are doing the right things to bring this to an end.
Merz had hitched his wagon to Trump — securely.
Now that the war isn’t going as expected and Iran has shown its resilience, Merz is berating Trump for the same strategy he once endorsed.
Arnaud Bertrand asks a good question: If the Americans are as strategically stupid as Merz is saying, why doesn’t Germany and other European leaders insist on tying their future to them?
The bigger question here
(pic.twitter.com/FNQtooyCWX) is if the Americans are as strategically stupid as Merz is saying, why do Germany and the rest of the European leadership insist on tying their future to them?
Where is Germany or Europe’s independent strategy on Iran?…
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) April 28, 2026
Merz, Starmer, and Macron could learn a thing or two from Spain. Notably, Spain has refused to let the US wage attacks on Iran from its airspace and bases. These European leaders have instead stood by as the conflict escalated.
Now, with inflation rising and war-induced shortages looming from a war Merz rubber stamped, the chancellor is adopting a hard line against Trump — whom he appears to be blaming.
Featured image via the Canary
By The Canary
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