The world is moving quickly and we need to be able to act fast, said CDU leader Friedrich Merz on the eve of his election win. As the likely next German Chancellor, Merz aims to establish a new federal government by mid-April, so Germany is effectively represented in Europe and beyond. There is a lot of expectation for Germany to take a leading role in supporting Ukraine, strengthening Europe’s defense, and maintaining transatlantic relations.
This need to act has been sharpened by the shifting policies of the US government, especially under President Donald Trump, who has not aligned with Europe on important issues like Ukraine. The German public expects a strong leadership stance from Merz, who plans to boost Europe’s independence from the US step-by-step, while also keeping a positive relationship with America.
Before focusing on foreign policy, Merz needs to form a government. With the Christian Democrats’ and Christian Social Union’s combined vote barely over 28.5 percent, a coalition partner is necessary. Merz is looking to form an alliance with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), who had a disappointing election result of just over 16 percent. However, there have been disagreements, particularly regarding the approach to military support for Ukraine and European defense initiatives.
In the coming years, Germany must invest significantly more in defense to meet NATO obligations, which may pose a challenge with the national budget already under strain. The new government will also have to address questions of budget allocation to fund such investments.
Additionally, the effects of international legal matters on political diplomacy have already emerged as a concern, with Merz’s statement about a potential visit from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following an ICC arrest warrant for alleged crimes. It remains to be seen how these and other pressing issues will shape the policies and decisions of Merz’s administration.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-foreign-and-security-policy-shift-ahead/a-71739269?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
