U.S. accused of causing ‘historic rupture’ as Donald Trump turns the world into a ‘den of robbers’

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has sharply criticized U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump. He warned the world not to let the global order fall apart into a “den of robbers” where ruthless powers take whatever they want. Steinmeier made these unusually strong comments at a symposium.

The German president’s remarks seemed to point to recent actions like the removal of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. Steinmeier, who used to serve as foreign minister, said global democracy is facing attacks like never before. While his role as president is mostly ceremonial, his words still carry weight and he has more freedom to speak his mind than active politicians.

According to Reuters, Steinmeier called Russia’s takeover of Crimea and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine a major turning point. He then said U.S. behavior under Trump represents a second historic break in the world order. He specifically pointed to America as “our most important partner” that helped build the current global system.

Trump’s foreign policy marks a dangerous shift in global values

“It is about preventing the world from turning into a den of robbers, where the most unscrupulous take whatever they want,” Steinmeier said. He warned against letting regions or entire countries be treated as property of a few great powers. The president stressed that this breakdown of values by the United States is particularly troubling given America’s role in creating the world order.

Steinmeier argued that active intervention is needed in threatening situations around the world. He said countries like Brazil and India must be convinced to help protect the global order. Critics have drawn comparisons between Trump’s approach and how authoritarian leaders dismantled democracies historically.

His comments reflect growing concern in Germany about the direction of U.S. foreign policy. The German president’s speech marks a rare public criticism of America by a senior German official. His remarks highlight the tension between traditional allies over how international relations should work.

Steinmeier’s warning about a “den of robbers” paints a stark picture of what could happen without proper global cooperation. The timing of his comments, coming just days after Venezuela’s leadership change, suggests immediate concerns about Trump’s approach. Despite the criticism, Trump recently received recognition when he got nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Steinmeier clearly sees current events as a critical moment for democracy worldwide. His call for other nations to step up shows he believes collective action is needed to maintain international stability.