The election of a new CDU party leader last weekend might be the first step towards a novel Black-Green coalition government – whose defence policy could be surprisingly visionary, if the parties are willing to work together
Angela Merkel has long resisted updating German defence policy for today’s challenges. Her successor will not be able to avoid the challenge forever
Germany, together with France, aims to play a decisive role in the reconstruction of the post-coronavirus world
Recent events show that Moscow does not take Berlin seriously when it acts alone. Germany must coordinate its actions at the European level and find common responses to Russia’s behaviour
The Greens’ drive and plans will be essential if Germany is to regain a leadership role on European climate policy
It is ill-advised for Germany to be complacent on common European defence – especially at a moment when the country holds the presidency of the Council of the EU
Germany is a safe haven for Syrians for now – but a government decision to lift the ban on sending refugees back to Assad’s Syria would have catastrophic consequences
Berlin has quietly made concessions to new calls for greater solidarity. But back home this consensus may not last forever
One member state has become a dictatorship as others spiral into debt. Germany must lead the European Union through the coronavirus crisis
German decision-makers must now bear in mind not only their country’s well-being but also that of the entire EU