Germany

Germany

Germany is a key player in the transatlantic relationship and—in cooperation with the United States—has been part of the backbone of the international order for decades. Germany is crucial to the European continent’s defense, with the role it played in reinvigorating NATO, and also Europe’s economic and political integration. Since war returned to the European continent in February 2022, the United States and Germany continue to bolster their cooperation, helping to pave the way for a strong US-European partnership, the benefits of which reverberate far beyond transatlantic shores.

FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Burwell: Merkel Has Not Forgotten NSA Issue

Issue Brief
May 8, 2026

Can Friedrich Merz’s chancellorship survive?

By
Phyllis Berry

One year into his chancellorship, Friedrich Merz heads a government beset by economic stagnation, low public approval, and coalition tensions.

Economy & Business
Elections

Burwell: Merkel Has Not Forgotten NSA Issue

Dispatches
May 5, 2026

‘Zeitenwende’ is anchoring Germany’s role as a Baltic Sea Power

By
Anna Wieslander

The Merz government has been keen to emphasize that Germany is a trustworthy and long-term security provider in the region.

Defense Policy
Germany

Burwell: Merkel Has Not Forgotten NSA Issue

Report
Nov 10, 2025

Germany’s policy on China: From win-win to strategic competition

By
Valbona Zeneli

Germany’s China policy has shifted from economic optimism to cautious competition—balancing trade interests with mounting security concerns. Once built on deep interdependence, Berlin now prioritizes “de-risking” and resilience in its approach to Beijing.

China
Economy & Business

Events

Public Event
Tue, October 28, 2025 • 5:00 am ET

Summit on the Future of Energy Security

Energy & Environment
France
Germany
Italy

Public Event
Thu, July 24, 2025 • 8:45 am ET

Germany’s digital minister on Europe’s digital competitiveness

Digital Policy
Economy & Business
Germany

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

In the News

Apr 29, 2014

Burwell: Merkel Has Not Forgotten NSA Issue

By Frances Burwell

VP and Transatlantic Relations Program Frances G. Burwell is quoted by Agence France-Presse on what the Ukraine crisis means for concerns regarding the NSA ahead of talks between President Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel:

Germany
MP Artis Pabriks, October 17, 2011

NATOSource

Apr 9, 2014

Hesitation Within NATO will Encourage Russia to Test Alliance

By Artis Pabriks, atlantic-community.org

Since the end of the Russian-Georgian war in 2008, Russia has been seriously increasing its military budget (up 15-20% annually) and conducting military exercises with more than 100,000 personnel (Zapad 2009, Zapad 2013), targeted towards its western neighbours.

Germany NATO
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Oct. 22, 2010

NATOSource

Apr 7, 2014

Ukraine Crisis Exposes Gaps Between Germany and NATO

By Spiegel

Frank-Walter Steinmeier wasted little time after returning to Berlin from the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels last week.

Germany NATO
German Eurofighter

NATOSource

Mar 31, 2014

Germany Mulls Military Support for NATO’s Eastern European States

By Madeline Chambers, Reuters

Der Spiegel said the defense ministry was ready to make available up to six aircraft for a strengthened air patrolling mission in parts of eastern Europe.

Central Europe Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, March 11, 2014

NATOSource

Mar 25, 2014

A Trading Power: Germany’s Hyperrealistic Foreign Policy

By Thomas Paulsen

German foreign policy is in dire straits, if we believe experts at home and abroad. Germany is criticized for being too passive on an international level, and for being unwilling to shoulder the kind of international responsibilities that would seem to be commensurate with its greater size.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
Buk-M2E missile system

NATOSource

Mar 24, 2014

NATO Commander Warns of Russian Threat to Separatist Moldova Region

By Washington Post and Reuters

U.S. and Ukrainian officials warned Sunday that Russia may be poised to expand its territorial conquest into eastern Ukraine and beyond, with a senior NATO official saying that Moscow might even order its troops to cross Ukraine to reach Moldova.

Belarus Germany
Russian light infantry fighting vehicles 12 miles from Ukrainian border, March 12 2014

NATOSource

Mar 13, 2014

Russia Massing Military Forces Near Border With Ukraine

By Steven Lee Myers and Alison Smale, New York Times

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced new military operations in several regions near the Ukrainian border on Thursday

Germany Russia
Cold Response 2014

NATOSource

Mar 10, 2014

Sixteen Nations Participating in Norway’s Cold Response Military Exercise This Week

By Norwwegian Armed Forces

The main purpose of Cold Response is to train participants in how to conduct combat operations in cold weather conditions.

Europe & Eurasia France

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2014

US Must Pull Germany Into Helping Lead NATO Against Russia

By Erik Brattberg

If Russia pursues and consolidates its armed seizure of Ukrainian territory in Crimea, the US and NATO have no politically viable option for reversing that advance by military force. What the West can do, however, is too modify Moscow’s calculations, making it more costly for Putin to sustain his aggressive effort to hold Ukraine within […]

Germany Russia
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

NATOSource

Feb 24, 2014

Foreign Minister Steinmeier on Possible Shift in German Foreign Policy

By Christiane Hoffmann and Ralf Neukirch, Spiegel

Excerpts from interview with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier conducted by Christiane Hoffmann and Ralf Neukirch.

Germany International Organizations
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Experts

Fellow

Tyson Barker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Staff

James Batchik

Associate Director

Europe Center

Central Europe Digital Policy

Fellow

Phyllis Berry

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia France

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Noel Coenraad

Strategy Advisor, Vattenfall AB

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy Transitions Germany

Fellow

Samuel Denney

Nonresident Fellow

Transatlantic Security Initiative

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Hanna Dohmen

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese
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