Author: Dr. Christian Richter

Published: 17 March 2026 Author: Christian Richter

Since the early hours of 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel have been attacking targets in Iran. The air strikes so far have targeted Iranian air defences, missile bases, nuclear facilities and the regime’s top personnel, including its supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Both Israel and the United States justify the attacks on the grounds of threats posed by Iran. The vast majority of commentators have been quick to condemn the military action as a clear violation of international law.
In contrast, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke of a dilemma at the beginning of March with regard to the international legal classification of the war in Iran. In his statement on 1 March 2026, Chancellor Merz expressed his solidarity with Israel and the United States and emphasized that Germany would not criticize the attacks on Iran with regard to international law: (more…)

Published: 28 January 2021 Author: Christian Richter

On 18 October 2019, the German Federal Foreign Office presented a diplomatic note to the Greek Ambassador to Berlin, formally rejecting Greece’s demands for the payment of war reparations and compensation for the First and Second World Wars. The Federal Government thereby responded to a note delivered by the Greek Ambassador on 4 June 2019, requesting the opening of negotiations on the Greek demands. In a statement to German news agency dpa on the same day, a spokesperson for the Federal Foreign Office explained: (more…)