Overview
- The former foreign minister, appearing on ZDF's Markus Lanz on Wednesday, warned Germany will "abstürzen" without major reforms to restore competitiveness.
- He said Europe can no longer rely on the United States under President Trump and must provide for its own security.
- Fischer backed Chancellor Friedrich Merz's concerns about the Iran war but rebuked the chancellor's wording, saying a leader's words carry real consequences.
- His intervention comes after Merz questioned US strategy in late April and the US government then announced a plan to pull about 5,000 troops from Germany.
- At home, he argued the governing coalition lacks a shared reform project and urged a "large catch-up effort" to protect the economy and the welfare state.