The message from Ursula von der Leyen was blunt. At the other pole, ​​German chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was “not the time to lecture partners and allies” on international law. I think that is something they could do more on.”An obituary for international law? Von der Leyen appeared to deliver an obituary for the international rules-based order calling for “new ways of cooperating with partners”. European Commission vice-president, Teresa Ribera, a Spanish Socialist, issued a more public reprimand to von der Leyen, saying “maybe it was not the most adequate manner to express herself”.

Source: The Guardian March 11, 2026 20:02 UTC