Concerned for the security and the future of Europe, both the German federal president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier as well as French President Emmanuel Macron, in statements made on Sunday (13/7/25).
There is not only the threat of war in Europe, but a real war is raging, federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed and accused Russia of “destroying the entire security architecture in Europe” with its attack on Ukraine.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier also fought in favor of reinstating compulsory military service in Germany, while rejecting the US responsibility for Israel’s attack on nuclear facilities in Iran and called on the federal government to persuade Israeli to improve the Israeli situation.
Germany must draw its own conclusions from “Russia’s war attack on Ukraine, which violates international law,” Mr Steinmeier said in the context of the established “summer interview” that he had to give to the second German TV. Compulsory military.
Europe and Germany have to be better protected and this includes the recruitmentsaid the federal president. “I am a supporter of the recruitment because I believe that with the changing security situation in Europe, with the fact that a war is being fought and with the facts we have drawn from it, the Bundeswehr staff resources must also be improved and this can only succeed if they are recruited.” An essential increase in staff can only be achieved on a voluntary basis.
The German president also highlighted the criticality of cooperation with European partners and allies in NATO and described as “successful” the outcome of the recent summit of the Alliance: “We have realized that we must take care of our safety. Not to do war, but to prevent a war, “he said.
Asked about the situation in Israel, Mr Steinmeier acknowledged his proximity to the Israeli leadership, but also made it clear that “there must be an improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza”. Israel, he stressed, “is a friend and partner, but this should be discussed and who else, if not us, should he have such talks with the Israeli government?”
Concerning the Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the federal president also dismissed US President Donald Trump for the escalation of the conflict in the area. “After long -term negotiations, an agreement was signed on Iran’s nuclear program in 2015. At that time, Iran was far from developing its nuclear capabilities, which we must fear today. However, the first government of Trump canceled this agreement and Iran then further developed its nuclear program. All participants then, Europeans, Americans, Russians and Chinese, had agreed that Iran should never have nuclear weapons, “Mr Steinmeier said.”
Macron declares that “Freedom has never been so threatened” after 1945
At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that “Freedom was never so threatened” after the end of World War II in 1945 and that “to this extent peace in Epirus had not depended on our current decisions”.
“We are living a period of overthrow. We have long realized that they are starting to happen. These reversals are being applied today,” the French state leader said in his traditional speech to the Armed Forces on the eve of the National Feast of July 14th, Bastille Day.
“Peace in our continent had never been so much dependent on our current decisions,” he added, citing mainly “imperialism and attachment” such as Russia, which began the war against Ukraine in February 2022.
The international class based after World War II is questioned and weakened more and more and “as there are no longer rules, it prevails the law of the strongest”, he complained.
France must “face so many challenges to remain free, gentlemen of our fate”. However, “to be afraid of you, you have to be strong,” he said.
“Mobilization between ministries is essential for national defense. Everyone must be in their battle position,” he urged, as a national strategic revision is expected to be published tomorrow, Monday.