German Awakening: Zeitenwende and Germany’s New Role in Europe
About this episode
The episode discusses Germany's evolving role in European security following the Zeitenwende speech and its implications for U.S.-German relations amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Days after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, new in office, gave the now famous Zeitenwende speech in which he proclaimed a dramatic turn in German foreign policy and national security policy in response to Russia’s full-scale aggression. The speech generated a lot of discussions and, sometimes, unrealistic optimism. Two years later, Germany has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine militarily and economically, but as the war has turned into a war of attrition, Germany is still a long way from the ambitious undertaking of Zeitenwende and divided over the extent to which to support Ukraine. In this episode, Jeff Rathke, the President of the American-German Institute, Washington’s only think tank focusing exclusively on Germany and U.S.-German relations, discusses with Martin Makaryan Germany’s role in the security architecture of Europe and within NATO, the practical implications of Zeitenwende, the war in Ukraine, and what the future holds for U.S.-German relations and Germany’s new role in Europe. This episode was recorded by Martin Makaryan and produced by Luke Litle and Andrew Whelan.
More episodes of Small World, Big Problems
- “Security is a Team Sport”: The Rising Industry of Private Sector Intelligence
- Democracy in Decline: What a More Authoritarian World Means for Global Security and World Order
- Inside Iran with Trita Parsi
- National Security Business: How to Get Started
- Diplomacy Without Borders: Negotiating the Future of Global Governance
- The Evolution of Modern Airpower with Brigadier General Geoffrey Weiss
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Small World, Big Problems podcast page.