Chancellor Merz’s Key Choices on German Foreign and Security Policy
This is the second of a three-part series addressing German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approach to foreign and security policy and initial actions, the key issues Merz faces through the end …
The Case for a German Grand Strategy
The early morning hours of February 24, 2022, shocked many German citizens and politicians. War on the European continent had been perceived as a relic of the past; the notion …
A Zeitenwende in Germany’s Israel Policy?
Former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s 2008 speech in the Israeli Knesset set a lasting foreign policy precedent by declaring that Israel’s security was a matter of German Staatsräson—a fundamental German “reason …
Episode 130: Germany’s Transatlantic Coordinator on U.S.-German Relations
Germany’s defense commitments are beginning to match the ambitions of the Zeitenwende, and Germany’s increased investments in European security are being noted in Washington. In his first visit to the …
Germany is Back
Chancellor Merz, Defense Investment, and the NATO Summit Since Russia’s first invasion of Ukraine more than eleven years ago, German leaders have struggled to find a fitting response to the …
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Operation Plan Germany
Defense Is More Than Tanks and Drones Roughly a year ago, the German government took a significant step in the realm of homeland defense by adopting the classified “Operationsplan Deutschland” …
Friedrich Merz in Washington: AGI Expert Analysis in the Media
On June 5, 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met President Donald Trump for the first time in the Oval Office. AGI President Jeff Rathke discussed the chancellor’s visit with multiple …
Episode 125: The Future of the U.S. Security Relationship with Europe
In his second term, President Trump has continued his criticism of NATO and European allies’ defense efforts while the United States pursues a reset with Russia—the main threat to European …
“Never again Ignore”
Why supporting Ukraine is a strategic necessity, not simply a moral obligation Support for Ukraine is a strategic necessity. However, in Germany, support for the beleaguered country is mainly portrayed …
Memo for Merz
Safeguarding German Security in a Turbulent World Dear Friedrich Merz, Congratulations on your election victory. Your party scored slightly lower than expected, but the CDU/CSU once again emerged as Germany’s …
Germany’s Zeitenwende 2.0: This Time for Real?
Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Change in Germany’s Foreign and Security Policy Amid Coalition Negotiations For years, European and transatlantic allies have urged Germany to take on greater responsibility for …
Defense is the Prime Ministry
As coalition negotiations to form the new German government begin, the defense portfolio will now be a key ministry in the new cabinet. Instead of trying to get the foreign …
