FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

US Should Challenge European Allies with ‘Frank Talk’ about Defense

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

US Should Challenge European Allies with ‘Frank Talk’ about Defense

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

US Should Challenge European Allies with ‘Frank Talk’ about Defense

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.

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Germany

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Vice President Joe Biden at the 2013 Munich Security Conference

NATOSource

Jan 28, 2014

US Should Challenge European Allies with ‘Frank Talk’ about Defense

By Clemens Wergin, International New York Times

In recent decades, many European states have largely outsourced their security to the United States, which provided a defensive umbrella and protected global trade routes vital for European commerce and energy supplies.

Germany Iran
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen in Afghanistan

NATOSource

Jan 28, 2014

Defense Minister: Germany Needs to Take More Responsibility Around the World

By René Pfister and Gordon Repinski, Spiegel

New Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen says that it is time for Berlin to take more responsibility. She also dreams of a European army.

Africa Europe & Eurasia
NATO's planned headquarters

NATOSource

Jan 21, 2014

New NATO Headquarters in Financial Trouble

By Fidelius Schmid and Christoph Schult, Spiegel

NATO is building a new headquarters for one billion euros. But the construction consortium is in financial difficulties and the project is at risk of being halted.

Germany NATO
French commandos

NATOSource

Jan 21, 2014

Europe’s Sole Military Force: Giving France Respect Where it is Due

By Gregor Peter Schmitz, Spiegel

In Damascus, Tehran, Tripoli and even Washington, Paris is taken very seriously indeed.

Africa Europe & Eurasia
Germany is Contributing to the Destruction of Syria's Chemical Weapons

NATOSource

Jan 10, 2014

Germany’s Contribution to the OPCW-UN Mission in Syria

By German Foreign Ministry

In response to a request from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the German Government has decided that Germany will make a substantial contribution towards the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons.

Germany Syria
Germany's former defence minister Thomas de Maiziere

NATOSource

Jan 9, 2014

Outgoing German Defense Minister Takes Parting Shots at France, Britain

By AFP

Germany’s former defence minister on Wednesday took an unusually undiplomatic parting shot at allies France and Britain, saying Berlin had met its responsibilities when it came to overseas military operations.

France Germany
Chinese Military

NATOSource

Dec 20, 2013

Why are European Allies Arming China?

By David Lague, Reuters

If the People’s Liberation Army went to war tomorrow, it would field an arsenal bristling with hardware from some of America’s closest allies: Germany, France and Britain.

China Europe & Eurasia
Remnants of Soviet-era tanks and cannons "reduced" into scrap in accordance with the CFE Treaty

NATOSource

Dec 2, 2013

Arms Control in Europe ‘Is Now in Crisis’

By Radoslaw Sikorski, Guido Westerwelle, and Villy Sovndal

Over the past 20 years, 70,000 tanks, combat aircraft and helicopters and other military equipment have been destroyed in Europe as a result of the treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) introduced at the end of the cold war.

Europe & Eurasia Germany
Leopard 2A5 Tank

NATOSource

Nov 26, 2013

Poland Acquires Over a Hundred Tanks from Germany

By Defense News, UPI, and Aviation Week

From Jaroslaw Adamowski, Defense News:  The Polish Defense Ministry has acquired 119 tanks from the German Army.

Germany Poland
German Chancellor Angela Merkel

NATOSource

Nov 25, 2013

Report: NSA Bugged Merkel’s Phone at Request of State Department

By Siobhan Gorman, Wall Street Journal

Shortly after former government contractor Edward Snowden revealed himself in June as the source of leaked National Security Agency documents, the agency’s director, Gen. Keith Alexander, offered to resign, according to a senior U.S. official.

Cybersecurity Germany
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