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?