Germany intensified its diplomatic efforts on Sunday as Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned of a looming regional catastrophe in the Middle East, calling for immediate de-escalation and humanitarian access amid growing fears of a broader war.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone call on Sunday morning with the Sultan of Oman, Sheikh Haitham bin Tariq, to address the escalating crisis in the Middle East. According to a spokesperson for the German government, both leaders emphasised the urgent need to prevent further expansion of the conflict and reaffirmed their joint commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution through diplomatic means.
The call comes as tensions in the region continue to rise, prompting international concern over the potential for wider conflict.
In a related development, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, currently on a diplomatic tour in the region, issued a stark warning during an interview with Tagesschau on Saturday evening. He cautioned that the Middle East faces a “serious risk of full-scale escalation” and urged all parties involved to demonstrate the highest level of political responsibility to avoid further violence.
Wadephul stressed that Germany, alongside France and the United Kingdom, is prepared to engage in dialogue with Iran regarding its nuclear programme. “The situation in the region is highly volatile,” he said. “Further escalation would have unimaginable consequences. What this region needs is peace, not the intensification of military conflict.”
He further warned that unchecked conflict could engulf the region and pose direct risks to European stability and security.
Turning to the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Wadephul described conditions there as "unacceptable," highlighting the urgent need for aid. “Hunger, death, and suffering must come to an end,” he said, calling on the Israeli government to allow full and immediate access for humanitarian organisations. He underlined that this appeal reflects not only Germany’s stance but that of the broader international community.
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Iran has warned it will respond “decisively” if subjected to military aggression, saying U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric signals “a real risk of military aggression”.
Ukraine could export several billion dollars of military equipment and services this year after authorising its first wartime foreign sales, a senior government official said. The country is also considering introducing a tax on arms exports.
The U.S. government has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan to secure better access to the Central Asian country's critical minerals, as U.S. President Donald Trump moves to counter China's dominance of crucial resources and their supply chains.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 20th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israel is preparing for the possibility of receiving a green light from the United States to launch strikes against Iran’s ballistic missile system, according to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN.
Aghdam’s Qarabag FK experienced a 6–1 defeat to England’s Newcastle United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League play-off tie in Azerbaijan's capital Baku Wednesday evening (18 February).
U.S. President Donald Trump’s 'Board of Peace' will hold its first leaders’ meeting on Thursday (19 February) in Washington, D.C., launching an initiative aimed at stabilising Gaza and addressing global conflicts. It's drawn support from regional powers but refusals from several EU countries.
U.S.-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva ended after two days of negotiations that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as difficult, while signalling progress on the military track.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in the Kremlin on Wednesday, telling him that new restrictions imposed on the communist-run island were unacceptable.
Sixty-five-year-old Halyna Popriadukhina has fled her home three times as Russian troops have marched deeper into eastern Ukraine during four years of war. Tired of running, she hopes Ukraine can somehow hold them back.
The United States has paid about $160 million of the more than $4 billion it owes to the United Nations, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday. The payment came as U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the first meeting of his 'Board of Peace' initiative, which experts say could undermine the UN.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un opened the ruling Workers’ Party congress by hailing the past five years as a period of significant progress, while setting out new economic and political goals amid scrutiny over military plans and possible succession signals.
Ukraine could export several billion dollars of military equipment and services this year after authorising its first wartime foreign sales, a senior government official said. The country is also considering introducing a tax on arms exports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 20th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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