German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has launched a scathing critique of Donald Trump, accusing the US leader of ripping up the international legal order and warning the world risks descending into a lawless "den of robbers".
A Stark Warning from Berlin
In a significant speech delivered in Berlin on 9th January 2026, Steinmeier stated that the behaviour of the United States under President Trump had gone "far beyond" what was acceptable. He highlighted that the US, which was instrumental in building the post-war global system, was now overseeing its breakdown.
"It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want," Steinmeier declared. He expressed grave concern that medium-sized powers like Germany were being pushed to the margins, while smaller and weaker states were left completely unprotected in this new, volatile climate.
Actions Sparking Global Alarm
The German president's warning follows a series of controversial actions and statements from the Trump administration that have sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles. Central to the outcry is the alleged operation on Saturday where US commandos seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, an act critics label a breach of international law.
Further tensions have been ignited by White House considerations to seize Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, and by Trump's direct warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro to "watch his ass". The US President has also claimed Cuba is "ready to fall" and suggested the US needs to "do something" with Mexico.
European Unity and Growing Backlash
Steinmeier's condemnation echoes growing European unease. French President Emmanuel Macron commented on Thursday that the US is "gradually turning away from some of its allies and breaking free from the international rules" it once championed. He described a world where multilateral institutions are failing and great powers are tempted to divide the globe.
This week, Labour leader Keir Starmer joined other European figures in warning the US against any move on Greenland, asserting its future must be determined by Denmark and its people. Meanwhile, in the UK Parliament, a cross-party motion signed by over 20 MPs has called for the United States to be expelled from the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The motion condemns the "kidnapping" of Maduro and the threats against sovereign states like Denmark, Colombia, and Cuba.
Labour MP Brian Leishman, who tabled the motion, criticised the "rank hypocrisy" of the international community and sporting bodies, noting FIFA's recent decision to award Donald Trump its first-ever FIFA Peace Award in December. "It's an invasion of a sovereign nation... I just want there to be consistency," Leishman stated, drawing parallels with international responses to other global powers.
The UK government, however, has refrained from criticising the Venezuela operation, stating it is for the US to set out its legal justification, marking a cautious divergence from the stronger language emanating from Berlin and other European capitals.
