Following a speech by US President Donald Trump before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, German Green Party leader Franziska Brantner has urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to adopt a more proactive stance on international affairs. Brantner emphasized the need for increased European unity in response to what she described as Trump’s criticisms of the UN and bedrock principles of international cooperation. She contrasted Merz’s periodic pronouncements concerning European strength with what she perceives as a reluctance to facilitate collaborative action.
The call for action comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Brantner challenged Chancellor Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) to demonstrate clear leadership. She posed a direct question regarding their commitment to supporting those advocating for security for all people in both Israel and Palestine, or whether they would passively observe the diminishing prospects for an end to the violence, peace and the release of hostages. Brantner specifically requested that the German government champion a two-state solution with significant effort.
Brantner reiterated the necessity of a cessation to the current conflict and the immediate release of hostages, criticizing those who present themselves as powerful figures in foreign policy but fail to engage when critical circumstances arise. She directly called on Merz to move beyond rhetoric and abandon what she characterized as a blocking of common European initiatives.
The pressure on the German government coincides with a recent movement from other international actors. French President Emmanuel Macron announced intentions to recognize a Palestinian state at a summit dedicated to the two-state solution, following similar declarations from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal. Furthermore, rising calls for sanctions against Israel are being voiced across numerous European Union member states.