Germany's Staatsra̤son in Middle East Sparks Debate, Critics Call for Change
Germany's foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly concerning Israel, has sparked debate. The concept of Staatsra̤son, which prioritises national interests, has been criticised for slowing Germany's response to Israel's actions and undermining the EU's credibility. Observers argue that Germany should abandon this term to align with European values.
Germany primarily uses Staatsra̤son to describe its special relationship with Israel. This has led to a slower response to Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid and muted support for the ICC's arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Despite this, Germany has preferred to support EU measures in the Middle East, such as cooperating with Egypt to organise an international reconstruction conference for Gaza and strengthening EU missions to support border control, the Palestinian civil police, and the judiciary.
Friedrich Merz, before his election to the chancellery, announced his government would be one of Europe's 'strongest supporters'. However, after his election, he concluded that Europe 'per se' was not a German national interest. His visit to Paris, Warsaw, and Kyiv raised hopes of reviving Europe as a geopolitical force. Observers argue that Germany should discard the term Staatsra̤son to better align its foreign policy with European and German values and interests.
Germany's adherence to Staatsra̤son has contributed to Europe's marginalisation as a geopolitical actor. The EU's condemnation of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine appears hypocritical due to its actions in the Middle East. While Germany has supported EU measures in the Middle East, its vote could have broken the blocking minority on suspending trade preferences with Israel but did not. Critics argue that Germany should reassess its foreign policy approach to better uphold international law and the EU's credibility.
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