FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Ukraine’s Slow but Steady Strangulation Is Taking Place in Plain Sight

New Atlanticist
May 6, 2025

Is Merz’s double-take chancellor vote a sign of things to come in Germany?

By
Jörn Fleck and Jurek Wille

It took two rounds of voting in the Bundestag to elect Friedrich Merz chancellor, a sign of division unprecedented in modern German history.

Defense Policy
Elections

Ukraine’s Slow but Steady Strangulation Is Taking Place in Plain Sight

New Atlanticist
Feb 19, 2025

Germany’s economy has gone from engine to anchor. Here’s what the next chancellor faces.

By
Piotr Arak

Revitalizing growth in Germany’s economy, which appears increasingly mired in stagnation, will demand urgent action from the next chancellor.

Economy & Business
Elections

Ukraine’s Slow but Steady Strangulation Is Taking Place in Plain Sight

New Atlanticist
Feb 4, 2025

The next German chancellor must lead from the front, not the middle, on European security

By
Rachel Rizzo, James Batchik

From support for Ukraine to defense spending, German leaders would be wise to take the phrase Führung aus der Mitte permanently out of their vocabulary.

Elections
Germany

Events

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Tue, May 6, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

What to expect from Germany’s next government

Elections
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European Union
Germany

Online Event
Tue, February 25, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Debriefing Germany’s federal elections

Elections
European Union
Germany
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Content

UkraineAlert

Jan 25, 2019

Ukraine’s Slow but Steady Strangulation Is Taking Place in Plain Sight

By Peter Dickinson

Russia’s war against Ukraine is about to enter its sixth year, but many remain in denial over the true nature of the conflict. There is still widespread international reluctance to acknowledge the global significance of Vladimir Putin’s invasion, leading to a preference for the kind of euphemistic language that blurs the lines between victim and […]

Germany Russia

New Atlanticist

Jan 23, 2019

The new treaty of Aachen: More than just a symbol?

By Nicholas Dungan

The treaty sends a signal that France and Germany are serious about the preservation of the European ideal, pooling of sovereignty, and the postwar international order.

France Germany
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, January 14, 2015

NATOSource

Jan 22, 2019

German Defense Minister: The World Still Needs NATO

By Ursula von der Leyen, New York Times

The alliance is not just about bases and troops. It is about defending the world order.

Germany NATO
President Donald Trump at the NATO Summit in Brussels, July 12, 2018.

NATOSource

Jan 9, 2019

President Trump: ‘I Want Europe to Pay’

By Donald Trump, White House

[Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan] is working so hard on the military. We have a — we were taken advantage of by so many countries on our military.

Afghanistan Germany

New Atlanticist

Jan 4, 2019

Angela Merkel’s data leaked

By David A. Wemer

The targeted leaks “[look] like a clear attempt to disrupt German politics,” said Ben Nimmo, an information defense fellow in the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab).

Cybersecurity Germany

New Atlanticist

Dec 13, 2018

Opposition to Nord Stream 2 gathers steam on both sides of the Atlantic

By Agnia Grigas

Although largely symbolic gestures, these actions signal growing bipartisan opposition in Washington and a hardening of Brussels’ stance toward Nord Stream 2.

European Union Eurozone
German Chancellor Angela Merkel

New Atlanticist

Oct 31, 2018

Merkel’s greatest legacy May be her unerring sense of style

By Thomas Klau

Can Germany’s leader for thirteen years last in the chancellery for another three? At this stage it is more than doubtful. Merkel herself left the door discreetly open to an earlier exit.

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist

Oct 30, 2018

As Angela Merkel begins her exit, what next?

By Jörn Fleck and Alex Baker

No matter who succeeds Merkel as leader of the CDU, it is difficult to imagine that person would be content with Merkel staying on as chancellor until her terms ends in 2021. That person will want the opportunity to connect with voters and chart his or her own course for the party.

Elections Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2018

Angela Merkel will not seek re-election as Germany’s chancellor in 2021

By Ashish Kumar Sen

"While one should never underestimate Merkel, it may be time to start thinking about her political obituary," said Atlantic Council distinguished fellow, Fran Burwell.

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist

Oct 26, 2018

#ElectionTracker: No, the United States isn’t the only country getting ready to vote

By David A. Wemer

As seemingly all attention focuses on voters from the Atlantic to the Pacific don’t lose sight of some other contests around the world. Here is a look at the races we are watching in the runup to the US midterms.

Brazil Elections
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Experts

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Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment

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Samuel Denney

Nonresident Fellow

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English Europe & Eurasia

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Tyson Barker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

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James Batchik

Associate Director

Europe Center

Central Europe Digital Policy

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Noel Coenraad

Strategy Advisor, Vattenfall AB

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy Transitions Germany

Fellow

Hanna Dohmen

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese
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