U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Friday called for Germany to take a tougher stance on Hezbollah, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization.
Following a meeting with his German counterpart in Berlin as part of a five-day European tour, Pompeo said he hoped that Germany would “follow Britain’s example” and ban Hezbollah.
The United Kingdom in February announced its decision to proscribe Hezbollah in its entirety, whereas it had previously deemed only the group’s “military” wing a terrorist entity.
Germany, as well as its European Union neighbors, maintains ties with Hezbollah’s political wing, and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has said that the EU’s position would not change in light of the U.K.’s decision.
Pompeo’s visit to Germany had originally been scheduled for earlier this month but was postponed in light of recent tensions with Iran.