As Germany’s new government takes office amidst global turmoil, the country’s foreign policy will be shaped by a complex interplay of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. From trade deals to security risks and climate protection, the incoming government must navigate treacherous waters.
As the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and center-left Social Democrats (SPD) announce a coalition agreement, ‘we are poised to take office in a time of global turmoil’ . The many uncertainties abroad are largely due to US President Donald Trump, who has been a major factor in shaping international relations.
Donald Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York.
He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics.
Trump's business career began in real estate development, focusing on Manhattan properties.
He expanded into casinos, hotels, and golf courses, becoming a well-known businessman and television personality.
He served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021, implementing policies on immigration, trade, and healthcare.
The incoming German government aims for a medium-term free trade deal with the United States, while in the short term, it seeks to avoid a trade conflict with the US and focus on reducing import tariffs. However, given Trump’s recent series of economic about-faces, this approach might prove optimistic.
Friedrich Merz, set to become Germany’s next chancellor, has long been a staunch supporter of trans-Atlantic relations. He chaired Atlantik-Brücke, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to fostering US-German relations, for 10 years. However, since ‘Trump retook the White House’ , Merz’s faith in close trans-Atlantic ties has been shaken.
Friedrich Merz is a German politician and former chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Born on November 11, 1955, in Bonn, Germany, he studied law at the University of Cologne.
Merz served as a member of the Bundestag from 1987 to 2009 and again from 2018 to present.
He was chairman of the CDU from 2000 to 2004 and has been a prominent figure in German politics.
The incoming government will face several important challenges on the world stage. One of these is the conflict in Ukraine, where Germany and other EU nations are expected to play a key role in enforcing any agreement reached with ‘Russia, as they see it’ . Merz has advocated for sending Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, while Scholz had opposed the move, fearing it could draw Germany into direct conflict with Russia.
The history of Ukraine-Russia relations dates back to the 9th century.
The two nations have been intertwined since the Kievan Rus' era, with Ukraine being a part of the Russian Empire from 1721 to 1917.
After gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine sought closer ties with Europe, while Russia pursued a Eurasian integration policy.
Tensions escalated over Crimea's annexation in 2014 and ongoing conflicts in eastern Ukraine.
The relations remain complex, with both nations competing for influence in the region.
Merz aims to strengthen European defense cooperation, ‘so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the US’ . This includes exploring ways in which Germany and Europe might benefit from the nuclear deterrence offered by France and the UK. However, this will be a difficult feat, given the reservations of many EU nations.
As trade with China becomes increasingly complex, Germany is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in global trade. The future government aims to reduce security risks associated with China, including effectively preventing foreign investments in critical infrastructure and strategically relevant sectors that conflict with national interests.
Germany’s relations with Israel are complicated by its Nazi past and the ongoing military action in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. While Germany has a historic duty to safeguard the state of Israel, it also criticizes Israeli actions as disproportionate. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for ‘Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity’ .
The outgoing administration had secured significant funding for climate protection, but ‘Trump’s withdrawal from international climate agreements has made it much harder for Germany to push forward climate protection measures at an international level’ . Environmental groups suspect the new government is not as committed to the issue.
