War in Middle East: US attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities-Trump dupies Europeans

It was less than two days, then it was clear: Germany and Europe are empty hands after their sensational diplomatic initiative in Geneva from Friday. The US President had duped her. The German Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU), his colleagues Jean-Noël Barrot (France) and David Lammy (Great Britain) and EU foreign commissioner Kaja Kallas in Switzerland had thrown their whole diplomatic weight into the balance, which has now committed US President Donald Trump.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) had also personally joined the diplomatic efforts to prevent feared expansion of the fights in the region. Not only that he clearly stood behind his Foreign Minister’s mediation in Geneva. In phone calls, he also advised the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who also sees himself as a mediator, and with colleagues from the golf region.

What does the United States’ intervention at the side of Israel to war mean for Germany and Europe – and their diplomatic efforts?

Concern for German citizens in the region

One of the most important topics in Berlin should now be concerned about German citizens in Israel, Iran and the whole region – nobody knows how strong an Iranian counter strike could be. In the past few days, the federal government had helped several Germans and their close family members with special flights from the Jordan capital Amman to Germany. The Germans had to travel to the Israeli neighboring country of Jordan on their own, the route over Amman was chosen because the airspace over Israel is still closed.

On Saturday, the Federal Foreign Office announced via the platform X that 123 Germans from the region were able to leave the region with another special flight. The Foreign Ministry had previously organized two charter flights with 345 people on board via Amman to Germany. On the night of Saturday, two Bundeswehr machines with 64 German Israel returnees at Cologne/Bonn Airport also landed in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Air Force has flown directly from Israel from Israel for the first time since the beginning of the war between Israel and Iran ago.

Also German soldiers in the region

In addition to the concern for German civilians, the federal government is against the background of the question of whether Iran is also attacking the United States in the region, for example also about the safety of German soldiers who are stationed on the side of the Air Force in Jordan by side with US soldiers. A good two weeks ago when WadePhul wanted to visit Jordan, but had to change his travel plans because of the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran, around 180 Bundeswehr soldiers were stationed there.

Together with a German contingent in Iraqi Erbil, they take part in international use to combat the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) and to stabilize Iraq. The use called “Counter Daesh /Capacity Building Iraq” consists of the two parts “Operation Inherent Resolve” and “NATO Mission Iraq”.

Diplomacy window opened a gap on Friday

Because they have great concern about the struggle between Israel and Iran, WadePhul and Co. had put together in Geneva on Friday to explore opportunities for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear conflict. The most important chief diplomats in Europe tried to clarify whether Iran is willing to give in to his nuclear program and to avoid nuclear weapons.

Afterwards it was clear: The conversations with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtschi had not brought a concrete result. But WadePhul, his colleagues and with Kallas also the EU saw the window for diplomacy opened at least one gap. Further conversations with Iran make sense, the Europeans made it clear. Wadephul was cautiously optimistic: “The good result today is that we leave the room with the impression that the Iranian side is fundamentally ready to continue talking about all important questions.” Iran also signaled the willingness to continue the talks.

Trump already on Friday: Europe cannot help

But just a few hours later, on Friday evening, Trump made it clear what he thinks of the European diplomatic push: nothing. The mediation efforts of European countries are not expedient, he let the journalist question know whether the latest discussions of the Europeans with Tehran were helpful. “Iran doesn’t want to talk to Europe. You want to speak to us. Europe cannot help,” he added.

Trump had only stated on Thursday that he wanted to give diplomatic efforts for around two weeks before he wanted to make a decision on a possible participation in the war of the United States. “Two weeks are the maximum,” he said on his way to the weekend at the airport in Morristown in the state of New Jersey. The maximum. Many of these words should have been clear to many: the US attack on Iran can also come much faster.

With the US attacks from the night, the window of diplomacy may have been thrown out of a crash. But the Europeans should hardly be satisfied with it. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius announced in the morning after a meeting of the security cabinet under the direction of Chancellor Merz that the partners in the EU and the United States will coordinate closely during the day. Merz confirmed the request to Iran to immediately take negotiations with the United States and Israel and to come to a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

NATO summit with a new main topic?

Not to mention the NATO summit this Tuesday and Wednesday in the Hague in Dutch, to which Trump also wanted to travel to. It is quite possible that US intervention in the Middle East will overlay the debate about the future financing of the transatlantic defense alliance.