FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Germany is ISAF’s Weakest Link

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

Germany is ISAF’s Weakest Link

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

Germany is ISAF’s Weakest Link

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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Tue, May 6, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

What to expect from Germany’s next government

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

Debriefing Germany’s federal elections

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New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2009

Germany is ISAF’s Weakest Link

By Joshua Foust

The Bundeswehr has evolved from refusing to kill known militants to calling in air strikes based on flimsy evidence. The German deployment has been a complete failure. The Bundeswehr is consistently undermining the allied tasks in Afghanistan and should either reevaluate or withdraw.

Germany

New Atlanticist

Aug 31, 2009

Will Germany Remain Part of the West?

By Hans Kundnani

In a sense, the central question of Germany’s post war identity is of whether it constitutes a part of the West or not. As the historian Heinrich August Winkler tells it, Germany has completed its long westward journey. However, the reality is more complicated considering the increasing shift of the Federal Republic’s foreign policy towards […]

Germany

New Atlanticist

Aug 27, 2009

Sarkozy and Merkel: Limit Banker Bonuses

By James Joyner

Germany chancellor Angela Merkel is backing French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to curb executive bonuses at next month’s G20 summit.  The EU is finalizing a plan to implement similar rules among its member states.

European Union Germany
German Euro Notes and Coins

New Atlanticist

Aug 26, 2009

Is Germany’s Economy Really Powering Ahead?

By Edward Hugh

Well, euphoria in Germany is certainly on the rebound, with a sudden surge in the ZEW investor confidence index and newspaper articles all over the place predicting the imminent renaissance of European economic growth, despite the fact that in 3 of the 5 big European economies – the UK, Italy and Spain – there is […]

Economy & Business Germany

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2009

German Terrorists Wanted to Kill Americans

By James Joyner

A foiled German terrorist plot against airports, military bases and off duty hangouts of American soldiers was motivated by Islamist zeal and hatred of American foreign policy, the group’s leader has revealed. Their intent was to kill as many Americans as possible to punish us for an alleged “war against Islam.”

Germany

New Atlanticist

Jul 8, 2009

Germany’s Iron Cross a New Symbol of Hope?

By Nicholas Siegel

On Monday, for the first time since 1945, German soldiers were awarded the Iron Cross for bravery on the field of battle.  The ancient Teutonic symbol, which dates back to the Crusades and was first awarded as a military medal in 1813, was pinned onto the chests of four German servicemen who dragged wounded comrades […]

Germany

New Atlanticist

Jul 6, 2009

Europe’s Dwindling Interest in Afghanistan: The Case of Germany

By Brendan Boundy

European interest in supporting NATO’s Afghanistan mission is low and getting lower.  Recent events in Germany are a case in point.

Afghanistan Germany

New Atlanticist

Jun 30, 2009

German Court Upholds but Delays Lisbon Treaty

By James Joyner

“Germany’s highest court has ruled that the Lisbon Treaty is not fundamentally incompatible with the country’s constitution. However, it has called a halt to the ratification process until the German parliament changes a domestic law to strengthen the role of the country’s legislative bodies in implementing European Union laws.” 

European Union Germany

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2009

German-American Partnership in Peril?

By James Joyner

In today’s Spiegel, Gregor Peter Schmitz asks, “Does the US Still Care about Germany?”  His starting point is Chancellor Angela Merkel’s wistful praise of a certain Atlantic Council chairman – and the fact that so few American politicians were there to hear her speech.

Germany United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2009

Whither the Social Democrats?

By Nicholas Siegel

As Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s current Foreign Minister and Hail Mary Social Democratic candidate for Chancellor in the September elections, began to speak at his inaugural campaign rally this Sunday in Berlin, Europe’s socialists held their collective breath. 

Germany
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Tyson Barker

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