Germany

Politics

Friedrich Merz has been elected Germany's chancellor after a second round of voting in the Bundestag after surprisingly falling short in a first vote, Reuters reported May 6. 

Germany: Merz Elected New Chancellor After Second Round of Voting

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany's domestic intelligence agency, officially designated the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, as an extremist group following a comprehensive three-year investigation, citing its ethnic-based definition of national identity as a threat to democratic values, Reuters reported on May 2. 

Germany: Domestic Intelligence Agency Labels Far-Right AFD Party as Extremist Organization

Europe

Economics

Military & Security

Germany formally requested the activation of the European Union's "national escape clause" to exempt defense spending from deficit calculations and avoid triggering excessive deficit procedures under the bloc’s fiscal rules, Reuters reported on April 28, citing a letter from outgoing Finance Minister Jorg Kukies to the European Commission.

Germany, EU: Berlin Invokes Escape Clause in EU Fiscal Rules To Increase Defense Spending

United States

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Ukraine

Russia

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that European countries have communicated to the United States their key non-negotiable positions regarding any prospective peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, ahead of renewed talks scheduled for April 23 in London, Reuters reported April 22. 

Europe, Ukraine, U.S.: Europe Sets Red Lines on Ukraine Peace Deal

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc will provide Ukraine with roughly 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion) to help Kyiv acquire two-thirds of the two million artillery rounds it requested in March, Bloomberg reported on April 14.

Ukraine: EU To Help Ukraine Acquire Artillery, Germany Offers Taurus Missiles to Kyiv 

Germany’s center-left Social Democratic Party and the center-right alliance between the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, announced a deal to form a coalition government, Deutsche Welle reported on April 9. 

Germany: Center-Right and Center-Left Parties Strike Coalition Deal

Germany's lower house of parliament voted in favor of several constitutional amendments, including changes to debt rules to exempt defense spending from government borrowing limits and a 500 billion euro ($546 billion) fund for infrastructure investment, Reuters reported on March 18. 

Germany: Outgoing Parliament Approves Historic Financial Package and Debt Brake Reform

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union and Germany's likely next chancellor, reached an agreement with his prospective coalition partners to significantly increase military and infrastructure funding while easing constitutional borrowing limits for defense spending, Reuters reported on March 5. 

Germany: Next Ruling Parties Agree on Reforms To Boost Investment in Defense and Infrastructure

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NATO military forces during static display after the Steadfast Dart 2025 military exercises at the Smardan Training Area in Smardan, Romania, on Feb. 19, 2025. 

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Europe is increasingly focused on achieving greater strategic autonomy in defense, but internal divisions and material constraints will plague this quest, even as the United States' role on the Continent continues to shrink, meaning NATO will likely remain the cornerstone of Europe’s security architecture. 

The Future of Transatlantic Security Cooperation, Part 2: The View From Europe

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A list of countries facing reciprocal tariffs on display April 2 at the White House.

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A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: The Escalating Global Trade War, South Africa's Coalition Government on the Brink

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U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order after delivering remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an April 2 event in the Rose Garden in Washington. The U.S.–EU trade dispute is on track to escalate as Brussels prepares retaliation against Washington's sweeping 20% tariff on EU goods, increasing the risk of a protracted tit-for-tat trade war that would disrupt supply chains, slow growth on both sides of the Atlantic and strain broader cooperation. 

The developments could see a protracted tit-for-tat trade war that disrupts supply chains, slows growth on both sides of the Atlantic and strains broader cooperation.

Brussels Prepares to Respond to the Latest Trump Tariffs

Turkey

South Korea

People wave flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of the municipality headquarters in support of arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S. To Announce Tariffs, Protests in Turkey Rage On

Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addresses the Bundestag on March 18, 2025, before a vote on changes to the country's constitutional debt limits.

The historic reform will allow for increased investment and higher defense spending, which will help raise medium-term economic growth in both Germany and the euro area. 

The Economic Impact of Germany's Debt Brake Reform

Ethiopia

Reichstag in Berlin with flags.

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Russia Contacts on a Ukraine Ceasefire, a Vote on Reforming Germany’s Debt Brake

A German flag flies above the Reichstag, the building that houses the Bundestag, on July 23, 2022, in Berlin. 

If approved, the constitutional reforms and unprecedented fiscal stimulus would unlock massive military spending and revitalize the German economy. 

German Parties Propose a Historic Overhaul of Spending, Defense Policies

CDU leader Friedrich Merz (left) and the party's secretary general, Carsten Linnemann, hold a post-election press conference in Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 24, 2025. 

Energy

Global Elections

Germany's new government will likely be more stable than its predecessor, enabling the CDU/CSU to pursue economic stimulus and a more assertive foreign policy.

German Election Results Position the Center-Right To Retake the Helm

The Reichstag on Jan. 22 in Berlin. The center-right alliance between the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, is widely expected to emerge as the largest bloc in the Bundestag after the Feb. 23 general election and lead the next coalition government.

The Weekly Rundown: German Elections, Macron and Starmer Meet Trump

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Will Germany's ''fire-wall'' against the far-right hold?

Essential Geopolitics: Germany's Pivotal Upcoming Election

Campaign posters featuring various German parties are pictured in Kastel, western Germany, on Jan. 22, 2025, ahead of parliamentary elections.

A two-party coalition could lead to more streamlined decision-making in Berlin, while a three-party coalition may lead to instability, prolonging policy uncertainty both domestically and within the EU.

Germany's Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

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The West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 17 in Washington. Donald Trump will be inaugurated as U.S. president on Jan. 20.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: The Gaza Ceasefire, Trump's Inauguration

<p>Germany is a country located in Central Europe, bordered by Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark. The country has mountainous terrain in the south, dominated by the Alps, with a plateau and forests in the center and the north. The Rhine, the Danube and the Elbe rivers, combined with Germany&#39;s central location in Europe and its access to the North Sea, allowed the country to become a leading exporter and one of the most prosperous economies in Europe. Between the late 10th and early 19th centuries, the territories of today&#39;s Germany were the heart of the Holy Roman Empire, a collection of small kingdoms, principalities, duchies and city-states. This led to the development of multiple seats of political and economic power that achieved unity in 1871. While Berlin is Germany&#39;s capital and most populous city, the country also has several economic and political centers, including Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt. Germany&rsquo;s location in the heart of the North European Plain has led to constant conflicts with its neighbors like France and Russia. After World War II, Germany was divided between East Germany, in the Soviet orbit, and West Germany, integrated to the European Economic Community and NATO. The country achieved reunification in 1990. Germany&rsquo;s main geographic challenge is preserving its territorial unity and maintaining a political balance between regions within the country. It also seeks to maintain a political alliance with France and a balance of power in Europe to preserve peace and keep markets open for trade. Berlin&#39;s efforts to keep the European Union closely integrated amid the current economic crisis are in line with this strategy.</p>

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

The Fate of the Eurozone

European Disintegration

SITUATION REPORTS

Germany: Merz Elected New Chancellor After Second Round of Voting

Germany: Domestic Intelligence Agency Labels Far-Right AFD Party as Extremist Organization

Germany, EU: Berlin Invokes Escape Clause in EU Fiscal Rules To Increase Defense Spending

Europe, Ukraine, U.S.: Europe Sets Red Lines on Ukraine Peace Deal

Ukraine: EU To Help Ukraine Acquire Artillery, Germany Offers Taurus Missiles to Kyiv

Germany: Center-Right and Center-Left Parties Strike Coalition Deal

Germany: Outgoing Parliament Approves Historic Financial Package and Debt Brake Reform

Germany: Next Ruling Parties Agree on Reforms To Boost Investment in Defense and Infrastructure

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