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Germany

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Germany. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Berlin

Head of State

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Head of Government

Chancellor Olaf Scholz

The leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Friedrich Merz giving a statement in Berlin on Saturday. Photo: AFP

European Union

Germany’s Merz wants European nukes to boost US umbrella

Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz said he would like to speak with France and Britain about sharing their nuclear weapons.

9 Mar 2025 - 11:12PM

Ukraine war

EU leaders agree to plan to ‘re-arm Europe’ as they rally behind Ukraine

7 Mar 2025 - 3:17PMvideocam

European Union

Opinion | Germany’s new leadership needs a dual-track approach to China and security

7 Mar 2025 - 3:01AMvideocam

European Union

Opinion | Ditched by the US, Europe must consider a ‘common home’ with Russia

Only by overcoming its animosity against Moscow and pairing up can Europe hope to rival the US and China in the game between superpowers.

5 Mar 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (centre) hosts the European leaders’ summit to discuss Ukraine, at Lancaster House, London, on March 2. Photo: AP

Defence

Germany’s likely next government seeks to boost defence amid doubts about US

Friedrich Merz said Germany must quickly strengthen its defence capability because of the ‘increasing threat situation’.

5 Mar 2025 - 11:28AM

Diplomacy

Opinion | Why US allies in Europe and Asia are ‘de-risking’ from Trump

Collective bargaining may be the only defence against his flirtation with rival superpowers, protectionist policies and transactionalist diplomacy.

4 Mar 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

Diplomacy

Opinion | China is ready to be an anchor in a brave new multipolar world

What seems clear from Munich Security Conference talk is an evolution towards a pluralistic world order. We need an effective governance framework.

4 Mar 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Donald Trump

From Trump to Putin, Germany’s Carnival puts politics on parade

One float in the Düsseldorf Shrove Monday parade showed the US president making a ‘Hitler-Stalin-Pact 2.0’ with Putin while crushing Ukraine.

4 Mar 2025 - 3:23AM

Crime

Driver rams car into crowd in German of Mannheim, killing 2

Security has been a key concern in Germany following a string of violent attacks in recent weeks.

4 Mar 2025 - 1:09PM

Ukraine war

Europeans embrace Ukraine’s Zelensky at London summit after Trump row

UK’s Starmer says ‘Europe must do the heavy lifting’ as leaders agree to steps for Ukraine peace.

3 Mar 2025 - 8:08PMvideocam

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at a summit on Ukraine in London, on Sunday. Photo: AP

Ukraine war

EU top diplomat says ‘free world needs new leader’ after Trump-Zelensky clash

A Russian official said Ukraine’s president had been ‘slapped’ by ‘masters of the pigsty’; US critics say Trump is doing Putin’s dirty work.

1 Mar 2025 - 11:15AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump speaks to the media during his meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. Photo: Ukrainian Presidency via dpa

Banking & finance

Macroscope | Are Europe and China stocks the better bet under ‘America first’?

As US stagflation fears undermine market confidence, Germany’s election outcome and China’s DeepSeek moment are shifting global expectations.

27 Feb 2025 - 8:30PM

China-EU relations

EU trade chief plans China visit amid soaring tensions with Trump

Bilateral grievances sure to be on the agenda, although problems between Europe and US could provide space for positive discussions.

27 Feb 2025 - 8:43AMvideocam

Mainland China

Editorial | Germany’s ties with China sacrosanct, no matter the leaders

As Friedrich Merz begins negotiations to form a coalition government, Berlin should keep in mind the importance of relations with Beijing.

26 Feb 2025 - 8:30AM

Germany’s conservative leader Friedrich Merz. Photo: EPA-EFE

US-China relations

Opinion | If this is the end of Pax Americana, what comes next?

China’s support for a rules-based order, in contrast to recent US policies under Trump, indicates Beijing is now the more reliable partner.

25 Feb 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

China trade

China trade team visits Germany to discuss cars after election and tariff spats

Discussions seen following increased vigilance on both sides toward US import tariffs by the Trump administration.

24 Feb 2025 - 9:30PM

Germany’s Merz faces narrow path to power after election victory

Friedrich Merz’s Conservatives have won, but with the economy in recession, the right making headway, and the US pushing massive change.

24 Feb 2025 - 7:50PMvideocam

European Union

Police in Berlin break up protests in front of far-right AfD’s headquarters

Protest came as the AfD made historic gains in the German parliamentary election on Sunday.

24 Feb 2025 - 8:12AM

People hold a protest near the AfD party headquarters in Berlin, Germany on Sunday. Photo: AP

European Union

Germany’s conservatives win election as far-right makes historic gains

Friedrich Merz, set to become new chancellor, took aim at the United States after his victory in Germany’s election.

24 Feb 2025 - 9:16AM

Donald Trump

Germans vote under shadow of far-right surge, Trump

The conservatives lead polls, with Friedrich Merz likely to be chancellor, while the far-right AfD could achieve a historic result.

23 Feb 2025 - 9:03PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Why a post-election shift in Germany’s China policy is no longer a sure bet

Front runner Friedrich Merz has long been expected to take a hawkish stance, but Trump and electoral maths may limit his room for manoeuvre.

22 Feb 2025 - 9:30PM

Friedrich Merz is widely expected to be the next chancellor. Photo: AFP

European Union

Europe can defend itself without US but needs more coordination: study

Europe needs to spend around €250 billion (US$261.6 billion) annually in defence investments to secure itself without US support.

21 Feb 2025 - 9:05PMvideocam

An informal summit of European leaders to discuss the situation in Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris on February 17, 2025. Photo: dpa

Elon Musk

Musk and Vance ramp up Romanian election dispute

Vance criticises cancellation of Romania election as Musk labels chief judge of top court a ‘tyrant’.

21 Feb 2025 - 12:23PM

China technology

China’s universities get students up to speed on DeepSeek with new AI classes

The domestic start-up’s runaway success has led some higher education institutions to create course programming on applications of its AI model.

20 Feb 2025 - 12:39AM

TikTok

TikTok to expand e-commerce in more countries as US business remains in limbo

TikTok Shop is expected to enter Italy, Germany, France, Japan and Brazil this year, according to sources.

19 Feb 2025 - 7:00AMvideocam

TikTok Shop, the in-app retailing feature on the popular short video platform, had started approaching Chinese sellers to open stores for the new markets. Photo: Shutterstock

My Take

My Take | If the ground is shifting underneath you, you’re in the right place

Revelations from Munich Security Conference show opportunities for Beijing, but expectations must be tempered.

18 Feb 2025 - 8:34PMvideocam

A speech by US Vice-President J.D. Vance highlighted the rift in world views between the Trump administration and Europe. Photo: Reuters

IPO

China’s Sany Heavy Industry eyes US$1.5 billion Hong Kong IPO: sources

The Shanghai-listed heavy machinery manufacturer could raise funds in the second half of this year.

18 Feb 2025 - 3:48PMvideocam

Singapore

To Asia, the US is now ‘a landlord seeking rent’: Singapore’s defence chief

Assumptions made in the wake of World War II had fundamentally changed, Ng Eng Hen told the Munich Security Conference in Europe.

17 Feb 2025 - 1:02PMvideocam

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