This Month
‘We need time’: Syrians in Europe resist calls to return home
Those who fled the 13-year civil war pointed to the political uncertainty after a rebel offensive swept into Damascus over the weekend.
- Laura Pitel, Eleni Varvitsioti and Amy Kazmin
Angela Merkel’s autobiography is a ‘stunning disappointment’
The former German chancellor provides only the most superficial explanations for her controversial actions and decisions, particularly those to do with Vladimir Putin.
- John Kampfner
July
The untold story of the most chaotic NATO summit ever
Donald Trump’s hijacking of the 2018 NATO summit marked the biggest turning point in the history of the alliance that has guaranteed European security since 1949.
- Henry Foy
June
- Opinion
- China relations
The contradictions in Australia’s China policy
Australia will promote the visit by China’s Premier Li Qiang as evidence the relationship has “stabilised”. But policy tensions and hard choices are only increasing.
- Jennifer Hewett
February
- Analysis
- US election
The false premise at the heart of Trump’s scorn for NATO
He has long painted the alliance as a sort of protection racket where those who do not “pay up” will be abandoned by the United States.
- Peter Baker
February 2023
- Analysis
- Russia-Ukraine war
Helmets to jets: Germany beefs up ‘dire’ military to counter Russia
The war in Ukraine has exposed the grim state of Germany’s armed forces, forcing a $150 billion buying spree for big and small items.
- Andrew McCathie
December 2022
- Opinion
- World politics
The American left’s chronic nimby problem
Progressives like to embrace worthy causes but not often at the cost of having their lives disrupted.
- Edward Luce
NATO chief fears Ukraine war could engulf all of Europe
Jens Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, said in an interview that “there is no doubt that a full-fledged war is a possibility”.
- Jamey Keaten
Wirecard in the dock as Germany’s biggest fraud trial starts
Wirecard became the first-ever DAX member to file for insolvency, owing creditors nearly $US4 billion.
- Updated
- Jörn Poltz and Christian Kraemer
August 2022
- Analysis
- China relations
German industry under pressure to pivot from China
Germany is looking to diversify away from China, but pulling back from its biggest trading partner could come at a high price.
- Andrew McCathie
June 2022
- Opinion
- Globalisation
Western liberals must learn from the Merkel years
The gas dependence on Russia, the turn against nuclear power, the inadequate defence spending: parts of her record as German chancellor have aged as well as milk.
- Janan Ganesh
- Opinion
- Energy
Why it’s hard to join the dots in Australia’s energy puzzle
Anthony Albanese and the Energy Security Board are determined to get the states to agree on a capacity mechanism for back-up power, but it’s a tough act.
- Jennifer Hewett
Defensive Merkel denies appeasing Putin over Ukraine
In her first major comments since leaving office, the former German chancellor refused to apologise for her approach to Russia.
- Geir Moulson
April 2022
- Analysis
- Russia-Ukraine war
Germany’s Russia inclusion policy in tatters after war
For decades, Germany had hoped it could help build peace and security in Europe through trade and cheap energy deals with Russia.
- Andrew McCathie
March 2022
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Four weeks on, and Ukraine is remaking history
Putin’s assault has been called the end of ‘the end of history’. Yet Ukraine’s resistance in the name of democratic choice has remade history.
- The AFR View
February 2022
- Opinion
- Russia-Ukraine war
How Putin took Europe to the brink of war
There is incredulity among Western leaders as they debate the threat of a major conflict within days.
- Gideon Rachman
US, Germany struggle to show united front on gas pipeline sanctions
US President Joe Biden has been looking to solidify support among European allies for economy-jarring sanctions against Russia if it attacks Ukraine.
- Matthew Cranston
January 2022
Russia pipeline fuels German coalition split as Ukraine tension rises
Germany’s coalition partners are split on the pipeline, which critics say will increase Europe’s reliance on Russian natural gas.
- Guy Chazan
Key bund yield on brink of turning back above zero
The rapid pick-up in yields, led by the US, reflects growing confidence among investors that the omicron variant will not derail the global economic recovery.
- Tommy Stubbington and Martin Arnold
December 2021
Europe has rediscovered the social market economy
The pandemic compelled governments to intervene to support livelihoods, spurring a tide of labour reforms.
- Martin Sandbu