2022 Year in Review

Diane Maria Langeloh
GERMANY'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
On August 8th 2022, Angela Merkel, former chancellor of Germany, was replaced
by Olaf Scholz. As one of the most influential European countries, Germany
holds significant international standing and responsibility, especially within the
European Union. Instability in Germany has the potential to create dissonances
in foreign policy and impact the international system. In this way, a
consideration of arising issues that Germany continues to respond to, as well as
its relations with France, Russia and China is crucial to understanding its foregin
policy behaviour.
CONTINUITY OF GERMANY’S FOREIGN POLICY
Angela Merkel’s long tenure solidified her as a key part of Germany’s
international identity. Her (re)actions and decision-making became predictable
and cemented Germany’s position as a reliable and stable partner in
international affairs. Since the new coalition government’s term, Merkel as the
German identity figure in international relations has vanished, both
internationally and nationally. Chancellor Scholz will now have to prove he is
worthy of international and national trust before he can truly become a
spokesperson for German citizens. Scholz, however, has indicated foreign policy
continuity, stressing that the government will strive for a stable European Union
and nourish the transatlantic partnership. Nonetheless, new opportunities for
international partnership may arise with the new coalition government.
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P H O T O : F A B I A N S O M M E R / D P A / P I C T U R E
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