Germany needs to stop thinking about foreign affairs and security in an isolated way. Fiscal policy, the country’s economic model, and the defense of our democracy have immense foreign policy implications that have been neglected so far.
The Merz government has started to restructure Germany’s foreign and security policy apparatus. The changes are happening too slowly and are not radical enough.
Despite Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his government’s claims of a brand-new German foreign policy, there has really been more continuity than change. What Berlin needs to achieve is nothing less than a major strategy for protecting Europe’s security.
The British prime minister had a terrible first year in office, and things haven’t improved much since. A bad result for his Labour Party in regional and local elections on May 7 may well cut his political career short.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’ center-right Christian Democrats have had a mixed start to this year’s five federal state elections. But these outcomes are less worrying for the chancellor than the state of his coalition partner, the Social Democrats.
In a world running fiscal and carbon deficits, debt-for-nature swaps can help alleviate the harms associated with the long-term challenges of both sovereign debt and climate change.
With its opposition to taking cheap loans from the EU’s SAFE defense fund, the nationalist-populist Law and Justice (PiS) party has decided to make Poland’s attitude to the EU the country’s key political cleavage. This is unprecedented and dangerous.
Beijing is largely unconcerned by recent US actions. From a European perspective, China may now appear more reliable than the United States. But Chinese policies and strategic objectives have not changed.
The “China shock” and weakening relations with Donald Trump’s United States have made clear that Germany must embark on a quest for new partners. For Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the key criterion for choosing them is whether they’re willing to abide by international rules.
The logic of the current US foreign policy is solely based on power, while abandoning rules and predictability. The question is whether Europe can muster the strength, cohesion, and nerve required to shape whatever global order comes next.
The question of how to facilitate a membership of sorts for Ukraine means that the debate about EU enlargement is fast approaching a critical phase. Berlin is starting to become more flexible.
In the US-Israel war against Iran, Germany has little influence on how it is being conducted but is directly affected by the security policy and economic consequences. This makes it all the more important to realistically determine its own interests.
Declining funds, increasing challenges: German development policy is facing a difficult situation. A reform is intended to remedy this, Reem Alabali Radovan, Germany’s Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, tells IPQ.
The brunt of Iran’s response to the Israeli-American attacks has been directed at the Arab Gulf states. As a result, their business model is in danger. The Europeans may also feel the consequences.
The Europeans are increasingly relying on ad hoc formats to address security questions. Those should no longer be seen as temporary fixes but as the place where Europe’s new security architecture is being built.
Amid Russia’s continued aggression and military build-up, Europe needs to ramp up its defense capabilities, and fast. Joint procurement and industry consolidation will be key, European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius tells IPQ.
The resolve of a strengthened Europe will grow as its capabilities expand. Here’s what needs to happen to take security into European hands—and to actively avert the worst-case scenario.
