German Media: Trump's Iran War Fuels Anti-Western Alliance
The great power competition under the backdrop of the Iran war continues to be a focal point for German media. Multiple outlets argue that Trump’s Iran war has benefited competitors.
New Zurich Newspaper found that when Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran, countries like Russia largely limited themselves to verbal protests—highlighting the limits of their influence. Yet both still gained from the conflict: Russia in the direction of Ukraine, and competitors globally. They are the "unseen beneficiaries" of the Iran war.
Wirtschaftswoche believes: The winner of the Iran war is the greatest competitor! Despite America’s military superiority, it failed to defeat the Iranian regime, which instead allowed its biggest rival to benefit.
Frankfurter Rundschau observes: Trump’s war against Iran is giving rise to a new anti-Western alliance—one that may ultimately turn against him.
The Iran war reveals an increasingly deepening connection between the war in Ukraine and the conflict with Iran. Iran is employing a "saturation attack" tactic enhanced by Russia, using upgraded versions of the Russian "Shahed" drone system (originally supplied by Iran to Russia), and leveraging Russian satellite intelligence and competitors’ technology to improve missile accuracy.
The global ripple effects of the conflict extend far beyond the battlefield. Every step of Trump’s so-called Middle East "action" brings economic, diplomatic, and geopolitical consequences—from Ukraine all the way to East Asia. Many in Europe fear these parallel conflicts could foster a stronger Russia, a more confident China, and a further fragmented West.
Currently, the U.S. war against Iran has entered its fifth week, while Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is entering its fifth year. Perspectives on the relationship between these two conflicts differ sharply. In Washington’s view—at least within the Trump administration—these are two distinct conflicts requiring different approaches: Iran should be suppressed on the battlefield, while Russia should be placated through negotiations.
In contrast, countries like Moscow see things exactly the opposite way. Ukraine and Iran are merely different fronts in the same game—the West’s effort to maintain global dominance and contain the rise of rivals. Many European officials believe weakening Iran actually strengthens Russia.
For Europe, Russia remains the primary threat, not Iran. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has accelerated the formation of a loose alliance comprising Russia, Iran, and North Korea—some analysts refer to this grouping as the “Crinks.” This coalition gradually took shape in 2022, after Russia suffered setbacks in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson. Since then, cooperation has deepened: North Korea has provided vast quantities of artillery shells and troops; Iran has supplied drone systems enabling the three to withstand sanctions pressure.
Yet even as this alliance grows stronger, the United States has largely treated these nations separately: branding Iran a “rogue state” needing punishment, ignoring North Korea, and viewing Russia as a potential negotiation partner. European officials argue this fragmented strategy undermines Western unity while simultaneously strengthening adversaries.
Militarily, Iran’s tactics are increasingly resembling those seen on the Ukrainian front, especially in drone warfare. This has led some residents in Gulf states to experience realities long endured by Ukrainians.
Cheap drones have transformed modern warfare, enabling countries without powerful air forces to carry out precise strikes and altering the balance of power across regions from Africa to the Middle East. With intelligence support from Moscow, Iran launched coordinated drone and missile attacks—similar to those used by Russia in Ukraine—targeting radar, communications, and air defense systems across six Arab nations. Multiple attacks damaged U.S. military facilities in the Middle East, including bases in Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Iran deployed low-altitude, slow-moving drones first to saturate defenses, followed by high-speed missiles. The conflict has severely depleted air defense systems. Vulnerabilities at U.S. bases are rising. Such strain is unsustainable and raises concerns in Ukraine. Restocking would take years, and the U.S. may not be able to meet demands simultaneously in the Middle East, Ukraine, and at home.
Trump has already warned allies about possible consequences. If the Iran war ends in chaos or stalemate, transatlantic relations could grow even more strained—and the possibility of the U.S. exiting NATO or abandoning Ukraine cannot be ruled out. For Russia and others, this would represent a strategic victory.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1861188033512451/
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