Headlines
German president says US is destroying world order
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 8, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
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Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 8, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
German President Steinmeier criticizes US foreign policy under Trump, warning of threats to global democracy and urging intervention.
BERLIN, Jan 8 (Reuters) - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticised the U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump and urged the world not to let the world order disintegrate into a "den of robbers" where the unscrupulous take what they want.
In unusually strong remarks, which appeared to refer to actions such as the ousting of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro at the weekend, the former foreign minister said global democracy was being attacked as never before.
Although the German president's role is largely ceremonial, his words carry some weight and he has more freedom to express views than politicians.
Describing Russia's annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine as a watershed, Steinmeier said the U.S. behaviour represented a second historic rupture.
"Then there is the breakdown of values by our most important partner, the USA, which helped build this world order," Steinmeier said in remarks at a symposium late on Wednesday.
"It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want, where regions or entire countries are treated as the property of a few great powers," he said.
Active intervention was needed in threatening situations and countries such as Brazil and India must be convinced to protect the world order, he said.
(Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Alison Williams)
Global democracy refers to the idea of promoting democratic governance and principles on an international scale, ensuring that all nations have a voice in global decision-making processes.
Foreign currency is any currency that is not the domestic currency of a country. It is used in international transactions and can fluctuate in value based on market conditions.
An international financial institution (IFI) is an organization that provides financial support and advice for economic development projects in various countries, such as the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund.
The financial community comprises individuals, institutions, and organizations involved in the management, investment, and regulation of financial assets and markets.
A president's role in international relations involves representing their country in diplomatic matters, shaping foreign policy, and engaging with other nations to promote national interests.
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