Ukraine’s armed forces surprised many when they managed to counter-invade Russia in early August. In part, the Ukrainians acted out of a sense of urgency, something that is sorely lacking in Western debates.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has unified European thinking about defense. But differences remain, says the Czech Defense Ministry’s Director-General for Defense Policy and Planning Jan Jireš.
The US Treasury is preparing a screening mechanism for investments in China. German policymakers and businesses should not avoid the debate about how Europe should react.
By introducing a defense commissioner, Ursula von der Leyen’s second European Commission makes clear that Europe’s security is an urgent priority. Defense industrial policy will, by necessity, be a key focus.
Europe is in desperate need of leadership when it comes to security. Yet, so far there is little sign of any Franco-German meeting of minds on defense.
Politically, the Scholz government seems finished, even if it manages to drag on for another year. Germany, which derived much of its foreign policy stance from its seemingly unshakable “stability,” does not look so stable all of a sudden.
President Emmanuel Macron is installing the first government dependent on the far-right in France’s post-war history. But paradoxically, the country may take a step toward ending the risk of a Le Pen power grab.
For the second year in a row, the UN climate change conference is being hosted in a country highly reliant on fossil fuels. Will Azerbaijan leverage COP29 to promote fossil fuel interests, or help chart a sustainable decarbonization path for petrostates?
There is overwhelming support for greater defense efforts within the EU, with citizens considering it one of their most important concerns. The EU now needs to bridge the gap between rhetoric and action.
For the first time in over 20 years, two German navy ships passed the Taiwan Strait in September, amid Chinese protests. For Berlin, this is the right way to go.
Washington has never been quite sure what it wants the Europeans to do militarily in the Indo-Pacific. The answer will only become clearer once Europe has rebuilt its military capacities. If it uses its potential, it will be able to act as a great power ally.
Highly indebted European NATO countries should levy a “defense tax” to make their long-term commitment to higher defense spending politically credible and financially sustainable.
What does Germany want from the so-called Global South, what does it have to offer it, and what is the competition doing? An interview with Niels Annen, Parliamentary State Secretary (Deputy Minister) at the German Development Ministry.
A month ago it looked like the national capitals had hobbled the European Commission president. But Ursula von der Leyen’s shrewd last-minute moves before unveiling her college of commissioners have reasserted her authority and instead hobbled the French president.
A Trump win is still possible. Germany and Europe should develop innovative tactics to position themselves intelligently in case of transatlantic chaos. Even if Harris wins, these efforts wouldn’t be in vain.
The German government won praise from all sides when it adopted its China strategy in July 2023. One year on, however, there is a yawning gap between ambition and reality.
Whether in addressing voters or assessing foreign policy crises, those who take into account emotional factors can have an advantage. Making the case for more “emotional resonance” and “strategic empathy” in international politics.
The German economy is already paying the price for having put the green energy transition on the backburner. To win the future, it needs four “Ds”: Decarbonization, digitalization, decentralization, and democratization.
