# Middle East Peace Process

Berlin’s High-Stakes Balancing Act: Chancellor Merz Warns Israel as US-Iran Ceasefire Looms

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that Israel's military campaign in Lebanon could derail a fragile new peace process facilitated by a landmark US-Iran ceasefire agreement. While acknowledging a rare 'window of opportunity' for diplomacy, Merz cautioned that regional divisions and instability in the Strait of Hormuz keep the prospect of a lasting peace distant.