In March 2011, Niebel caused diplomatic tensions when he accused the United Nations-backed military alliance operating in Libya of hypocrisy. He argued that "it is notable that exactly those countries which are blithely dropping bombs in Libya are still drawing oil from Libya." He also criticized the French government of President Nicolas Sarkozy for a lack of consultation and Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, for “suboptimal” co-ordination.