Displaying items by tag: Germany

Olaf Scholz has criticised Donald Trump’s proposal to make US military aid for Ukraine conditional on access to the country’s rare earth resources, calling it ‘selfish and self-centred’. A Ukrainian source has said that resource-sharing had already been included in Volodymyr Zelensky’s ‘victory plan’, which has been presented to foreign leaders, including Trump. The future of US aid to Ukraine remains uncertain, with military assistance continuing but non-military aid programs frozen under the new administration. Germany is Ukraine’s second-largest military donor; however, Scholz has blocked proposed additional security assistance worth €3 billion unless it is covered by new government borrowing. He has also resisted sending Taurus cruise missiles, citing escalation concerns. As Ukraine seeks continued support, Western nations face internal debates over military aid, economic interests, and the war’s broader implications.

Tens of thousands of Germans have protested in Berlin against perceived political collaboration with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The demonstrations followed votes in which the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, received AfD backing on immigration-related proposals. While Merz insists he did not seek AfD support, critics including former chancellor Angela Merkel view this as a violation of Germany’s post-war commitment to reject far-right alliances. The protests attracted around 160,000 participants. With national elections weeks away, CDU leads the polls, with AfD in second place. Merz has ruled out forming a coalition with AfD, but tensions remain high. Demonstrators, alarmed by potential shifts in Germany’s political landscape, have called on democratic parties to protect the nation’s values.

The chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has lost a vote of no confidence in the German parliament, resulting in an early election which will take place on 23 February. Although he expected the loss, Scholz saw this as an opportunity to rejuvenate his party’s fortunes; after the collapse of his three-party coalition government in November, his minority administration has struggled to pass legislation. His Social Democratic Party (SDP) is lagging in the polls, while the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) seems poised to return to power. Following the vote, the president has 21 days to dissolve parliament. This early election campaign will focus on key issues such as the economy, immigration, and taxes. The rise of radical parties, like the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) which is currently polling at almost 20%, adds complexity to coalition-building efforts, as the mainstream parties struggle to form a stable government.

Germany’s ruling coalition faces a crisis after chancellor Olaf Scholz fired finance minister Christian Lindner, citing a breakdown of trust. Scholz, leader of the Social Democrats, said that Lindner, head of the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), had prioritised his party’s interests over the country’s needs. This move has left Scholz's coalition without a parliamentary majority; this might lead to a vote of confidence in January and early elections. Tensions within the coalition had been brewing for weeks, particularly over economic policies. Scholz and the Green party had pushed for increased public spending, especially to counter rising energy costs and defence needs following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but Lindner wants to pay for tax cuts by slashing welfare and social budgets and pushing back environmental targets. The political turmoil comes amid economic stagnation and growing uncertainties in Europe, compounded by Donald Trump’s election.

France, Germany, and the UK have introduced new sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, which US secretary of state Antony Blinken said  will be used against Ukraine. The sanctions include restrictions on Iran Air and travel bans on military officials. UK foreign secretary David Lammy described Iran's actions as ‘a dangerous escalation’. Several individuals and organisations involved in the supply of the missiles face sanctions, and Russian cargo ships transporting these supplies have also been targeted. The Western nations have demanded that Iran halt its missile deliveries, citing security threats to Europe. Blinken and Lammy also flew to Ukraine to ‘hear directly from the leadership’ about their objectives. Volodymyr Zelensky has asked for authorisation to use Western-supplied missiles to strike targets inside Russia - a move the USA has so far resisted. Russia continues to make advances in eastern Ukraine.

Sir Keir Starmer has emphasised that his government's intention to improve relations with the EU does not equate to reversing Brexit. Speaking alongside German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Starmer highlighted the desire for a closer relationship with Europe, focusing on trade, defence, and economic growth, while ruling out rejoining the single market or customs union. The discussions also included plans for a treaty aimed at boosting cooperation between the UK and Germany, particularly in areas such as energy security and science. While the EU has proposed a youth mobility scheme to allow young people to study and work across borders, Starmer clarified that the UK has no plans to adopt such a scheme but is open to enhancing educational and cultural exchanges. The discussions were welcomed by some as a step towards mending UK-EU relations, while others expressed concerns or called for more ambitious efforts to rebuild ties with Europe.

Journalist Evan Gershkovich and US marine Paul Whelan have been released from Russian jails in the largest prisoner swap with the West since the Cold War. The exchange, the result of months of complex negotiations, also freed British-Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who had been sentenced to 25 years for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Others released include Radio Free Europe editor Alsu Kurmasheva, anti-war artist Aleksandra Skochilenko, dissident politician Ilya Yashin, two former staffers for Alexei Navalny, and Russian-German dual citizen Kevin Lik. The swap, conducted in Turkey, involved the US, Russia, Germany, and other nations, led by Joe Biden and his national security team. Biden, speaking from the White House with the families of the released, called it ‘a very good afternoon’ and praised the diplomacy involved. He acknowledged Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey for their roles in the negotiation and logistical support.

The German cabinet has at last approved its 2025 budget after months of wrangling, despite a €17 billion shortfall between projected spending and revenue. Finance minister Christian Lindner stated that innovative measures and stronger growth from a new economic package should generate an additional €6 billion next year. The budget includes record investments of €78 billion, net borrowing of €43.8 billion, and a total size of €481 billion. The country aims to boost its economy by over 0.5% in 2025. Lindner defended the budget's legality and fiscal prudence despite analysts’ concerns. Military aid to Ukraine will be reduced next year, as Ukraine is expected to secure $50 billion in loans from the G7. Germany was the worst performing major economy last year, with gross domestic product contracting by 0.3%. It pulled out of recession early this year, but growth has been slower than expected. Reaching agreement on the budget has been a major test for a coalition often accused of being hobbled by internal disagreements.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has denied Nicaragua's request for emergency measures to halt Germany's arms sales to Israel, claiming that this violated the UN genocide convention. Germany is a key ally of Israel and its second-largest arms supplier after the USA, supplying 30% in 2023. Nicaragua also accused Germany of breaching the UN genocide convention by halting funding for UNRWA, the UN's aid agency, over allegations of staff involvement in attacks on Israel. While Germany welcomed the ICJ's decision, it said that it is the largest donor of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, and that it was working ‘urgently’ to ensure that aid reaches the people of Gaza. The ICJ's decision on emergency measures came swiftly, but a final ruling could take years: it will now decide if it has jurisdiction over the case. Nicaragua, a longtime supporter for the Palestinian cause, has itself often been criticised for its human rights issues, including crackdowns on dissent and protests.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz has tried to strike a delicate balance on a trip to China. He wanted to promote business ties but also to raise concerns over China's export surge to Europe and its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Meeting with top leaders including Xi Jinping, he adopted a conciliatory tone in his discussions, emphasising partnership while acknowledging China as a competitor and systemic rival. This marked his first visit since Germany categorised China as such and called for reduced dependency on Chinese goods. Germany faces economic challenges, exacerbated by rising energy prices due to the Ukraine war. Scholz also urged Jinping to press Russia to end its ‘senseless’ war with Ukraine: see