Germany is facing a dilemma: its alliances are weakening and its dependence is growing. NATO is under pressure, US leadership is less predictable, and Europe is struggling to act as one. At the same time, power is shifting beyond the military: toward AI, digital infrastructure, and technological control.
So where does Germany really stand and how much influence does it still have?
From new alliances like the E3 and Weimar Triangle to stalled decision-making in NATO and the EU, Berlin has yet to define a clear strategy.
In this special episode of Berlin Briefing from the Global Media Forum, DW’s Chief Political Correspondent Nina Haase and DW Head of Berlin Bureau Max Hofmann are joined by NATO and international security expert Gerlinde Niehus and Maximilian Mayer, Professor of International Relations and Global Technology Policy at the University of Bonn.
Together, they ask: where does Germany hold real leverage and how can it help Europe become a strategic power?
#berlinbriefing #dwgermanpolitics
CHAPTERS:
0:00 ‘Bonn Briefing’ Special
2:45 Germany in a Shifting Order
5:30 UN Setback, Credibility Questions
8:15 Values, Trust, Global Perception
11:00 NATO Under Pressure
13:45 Europe’s Leadership Gap
16:30 Strategy or Strategic Ambiguity?
19:15 Tech Dependencies and AI Risks
22:00 Defense Spending, Fragmented Europe
24:45 National Paths vs European Action
27:30 NATO Limits, EU Alternatives
30:15 Outlook: Defense Industry and Europe’s Future
DW Berlin Briefing on
Apple Podcasts: DW Berlin Briefing – Inside German politics
Spotify: DW Berlin Briefing – Inside German politics
Subscribe Berlin Briefing Newsletter: Newsletter Registration
For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/
Follow DW on social media:
►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews
►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews
►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/
►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews
Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1