Merz conquers the world stage: Germany's new power politics in the Ukraine war!

Merz conquers the world stage: Germany's new power politics in the Ukraine war!

Friedrich Merz, the new hope of German politics, has tried to give Germany a strong voice in the international context. After the federal election in February 2025, he is increasingly being seen as a possible future chancellor, while his predecessor Olaf Scholz is increasingly moving into the background in foreign policy matters. Merz is perceived as the missing German counterpart to Donald Trump, which has a noticeable impact on the dynamics of Germany's relations with the USA and the rest of the world.

Shortly after the election, Merz traveled to France and Poland to strengthen these important relationships. In Brussels he held talks with Ursula von der Leyen and NATO President Mark Rutte, which particularly addressed the effects of Trump's punitive tariffs. However, his commitment was particularly notable when he traveled to Kiev alongside Macron, Starmer and Tusk to emphasize Germany's role in the Ukraine War negotiations. The meeting called for a 30-day ceasefire to be monitored by the US.

A new chapter in relationships

Merz's proactive diplomacy also includes a telephone conversation with Donald Trump during his stay in Kiev, in which he involved other members of the "Coalition of the Willing" via video conference. Together with Macron, they agreed on a “German-French new start”, which underlines the willingness to cooperate within Europe. In his conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Merz reveals a relationship of trust that contrasts sharply with Scholz's previous difficulties in this regard. For example, Scholz has had conflicts with Zelensky in the past, particularly due to the refused delivery of Taurus marching bodies.

With his active stance, Merz is signaling that the previously existing power vacuum in German foreign policy is now a thing of the past. This could have a significant impact not only on relations with European neighbors, but also with the USA, especially in times of geopolitical tensions and ongoing challenges on Europe's eastern border.

Overall, Merz's approach is a striking contrast to Scholz's more reserved style. While Merz acts as a kind of driving force for new initiatives in international foreign policy, Scholz is increasingly perceived as a politician who is having difficulty meeting the challenges of the present. The coming months could be decisive in determining how these two approaches become established in the Federal Republic. Further information can be found on Mercury and Mirror.