Dr. Henning Hoff

Despite Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his government’s claims of a brand-new German foreign policy, there has really been more continuity than change. What Berlin needs to achieve is nothing less than a major strategy for protecting Europe’s security. 

Both the foreign and the domestic German secret intelligence agencies are changing.

Amid tumultuous world events, Germany has become fearful of the future. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is right to try and address this.

The Christian Democrats and Social Democrats of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’ coalition government have made an effort to get along better. So far, however, they have failed to come up with the new approaches in security and economic policy that the country needs.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has started an untimely, and ill-informed, debate about “German boots on the ground in Ukraine.” A more strategic and coherent foreign policy is still a long way off.

The German chancellor appeared to have no qualms about Donald Trump entering the war against Iran at Israel’s side in order to destroy the Iranian nuclear program. It remains unclear what follows from that.