Whither the West?
The response to Russia and transatlantic trade will be the focus of Angela Merkel’s second visit to Washington as Chancellor. But, as important as these issues are to “the West”—i.e., …
Merkel in Washington: A Reset Rendezvous
During her 2011 visit to Washington, DC, President Obama hosted Chancellor Merkel at a festive White House state dinner and conferred on her the highest award he could offer—the Medal …
U.S. and German Policies toward Russia
When President Barack Obama invited Chancellor Angela Merkel in early January of this year to visit Washington, the NSA affair was still uppermost on everyone’s mind. Officially, in their telephone …
Public Support for the Government’s Foreign and Defense Policy
A public opinion poll conducted by Infratest dimap for ARD-Deutschlandtrend in early March gave the government its best marks in foreign and defense policy. According to the poll, 67 percent …
Transatlantic Relations
A report posted by Chancellor Merkel’s office on the occasion of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Berlin in late January stressed that the transatlantic partnership with the …
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Support Our WorkForeign and Defense Policy Initiatives and Priorities
The opening paragraphs of the foreign policy section in the coalition agreement emphasize Germany’s willingness to assume greater international responsibility and contribute reliably to crisis and conflict resolution in partnership …
Contributions to Crisis and Conflict Resolution
Foreign Minister Steinmeier and Defense Minister von der Leyen emphasized Germany’s responsibility to support international crisis prevention and conflict resolution efforts during statements laying out the government’s policy priorities to …
Ministry of Defense
Dr. Ursula von der Leyen took over leadership of the Ministry of Defense on 17 December 2013. She replaced Thomas de Maizière, who returns to the post of Interior Minister, …
Bundestag Committees
The Bundestag plays a role in German foreign and defense policy through the oversight of government ministries, budget appropriations, and the requirement that it approve foreign military operations. The work …
Merkel’s Third Government
The September 2013 Bundestag election gave Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian affiliate Christian Social Union (CSU) their best result since 1990, but it also …
Federal Chancellery
The Bundestag elected CDU Chairman Dr. Angela Merkel to her third term as Chancellor on 17 December 2013. Merkel received 462 votes, 42 less than the total of all coalition …
Foreign Office
The Foreign Office appears likely to regain some of the ground it lost to the Chancellery during the last government. Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is more effective and much …
