German president says Trump team ignoring 'established rules'

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday said the Trump administration "has no regard for established rules" as he opened the Munich Security Conference.

"The new American administration has a very different world view to ours," Steinmeier said. "One that has no regard for established rules, partnership and established trust."

"We cannot change that. We have to accept that and we can deal with it," he said in unusually strong language at the event where US Vice President JD Vance was also attending.

The German head of state urged European leaders to keep calm in the face of a blizzard of disruptive policy announcements from Washington since Trump returned to the White House.

"We must not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by the flood of announcements," he said.

"We must not freeze in fear, or as the English saying goes: Let's not be a deer caught in the headlights.

"But I am convinced that it is not in the interests of the international community for this world view to become the dominant paradigm.

"A lack of rules must not become the model for a reorganization of the world."

Steinmeier added: "It makes a difference when the leading democracy and world power says: we can do without rules.

"That is why my appeal is: let's stick to what helps us. Cooperation helps us. Partnerships and alliances are worthwhile.

"Democracy is not a business model. It is not a playground for disruption."

© Agence France-Presse