Merz steps up scrutiny of arms procurement amid spending angst—Others warn that the war in Ukraine, where drone warfare has taken centre stage on the battlefield, has shown the need to invest in unmanned systems and… www.ft.com/content/420c... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
China’s mounting economic challenge to Europe’s largest economy is becoming impossible to ignore. How Merz chooses to handle it on his first trip to Beijing will have far-reaching implications for the EU @chassnews.bsky.social
ep.ft.com/permalink/em...
‘They All Tried to Break Me’: Gisèle Pelicot Shares Her Story www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/m...
When Marco Rubio took to the stage at the
@munsecconf.bsky.social , he laced his address with reassurance, but the message was full Maga. Our take w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com
‘The best we can hope for’: Rubio’s Munich unity appeal fails to woo Europe ft.com/content/9463...
@financialtimes.com
Really good read....
On the Big German transatlantic heartbreak : “The transatlantic relationship has a far more emotional foundation than in the UK or in France...The Americans taught the Germans democracy. It feels like a betrayal," says Claudia Major
www.ft.com/content/ef3c...
On the Big German transatlantic heartbreak : “The transatlantic relationship has a far more emotional foundation than in the UK or in France...The Americans taught the Germans democracy. It feels like a betrayal," says Claudia Major
www.ft.com/content/ef3c...
In another era, Germany would be certain the US would shield a refinery supplying *90%* of greater Berlin's petrol needs from sanctions. But this is the Trump era - Gov is reviewing nationalisation (expropriation of Rosneft) as back-up plan - My dispatch: www.ft.com/content/9515...
yes and they may end up doing it - but very contentious decision for the Germans, and Rosneft as well as Putin have issued multiple threats
good this. Big barrier to finding a new owner is that, as with much of Europe's refinery complex, Schwedt is old, in need of modernisation, in a falling demand market and as such is a deeply unattractive proposition. European governments need to prepare to be the refinery owner of last resort
In another era, Germany would be certain the US would shield a refinery supplying *90%* of greater Berlin's petrol needs from sanctions. But this is the Trump era - Gov is reviewing nationalisation (expropriation of Rosneft) as back-up plan - My dispatch: www.ft.com/content/9515...
Successive German governments have avoided expropriation for fear of Russian retaliation. But the cabinet of Chancellor Friedrich Merz may be faced with no other choice. @chassnews.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/9515...
Friedrich Merz under pressure to ease ‘firewall’ against Germany’s far-right—The argument inside the CDU mirrors debates across Europe, where far-right movements that were once on the fringes of politics are challenging… www.ft.com/content/8d40... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
Europe’s rightwing parties squirm as Trump threatens tariffs—
The reactions of rightwing politicians — many of whom previously lavished praise on the current US administration for calling out… www.ft.com/content/d41c... @chassnews.bsky.social @alicemhancock.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
It was Germany that caused TAVIAN to turn around! 💪
After inspecting documents (on the German Bight side) they concluded they were falsified. When coming into the Baltic, they rejected entry.
Finally! For the first time we have seen direct action in the Baltic! Thank you Germany 🇩🇪!
My colleague @martinsandbu.ft.com is right: Europe lacks the self confidence - and countries such as Germany doesn’t trust itself.
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
My colleague @martinsandbu.ft.com is right: Europe lacks the self confidence - and countries such as Germany doesn’t trust itself.
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
Berlin in the dark: a power outage shakes Germany-The country’s ageing energy infrastructure is set to be upgraded after two decades of under-investment, but the blackout has exposed the country’s… www.ft.com/content/c91d... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
Role reversal: how foot-dragging France blindsided newly assertive Berlin—The stand-off underscores a new dynamic between Europe’s two largest powers: an initiative-driven Germany and a foot-dragging France. www.ft.com/content/99d2... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
German parliament suffers suspected cyber attack during Zelenskyy’s visit on.ft.com/4ae9xOM
German Mittelstand in turmoil after breaking taboo on meeting far right—That broke a long-standing taboo in German politics, business and among unions not to talk with the AfD, which has… www.ft.com/content/9c2f... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
#EUDefence: #Berlin and #Paris discuss scrapping joint fighter to focus on air ‘combat cloud’, by Laura Pitel, @chassnews.bsky.social, Sarah White & @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social | Financial Times
www.ft.com/content/e0cc...
Gerhard Schröder refuses to be Germany’s scapegoat-Schröder lost his remaining supporters when he joined the board of Russian state oil group Rosneft in 2017 and continued to make regular visits…
www.ft.com/content/5bd1... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
Germany’s Friedrich Merz backs protectionist measures on Chinese steel—Once a strong defender of free trade, Germany has been severely hit… www.ft.com/content/a02d... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
Friedrich Merz is testing Germany’s patience—
Merz is not the only leader navigating a weak economy and a fraught political climate; both the UK’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron are grappling with… www.ft.com/content/bc18... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
Breaking News: There are no plans for President Trump to meet Vladimir Putin soon, a White House official said, a week after Trump floated the idea.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz has taken office with a bang - touring capitals and projecting newfound German assertiveness. But it has not been easy at home. Nearly six months on, I examine why in this longer read:
on.ft.com/3WQ5XlS
on.ft.com/46NXmWS Germany to allow retirees to earn €2,000 a month tax-free @chassnews.bsky.social
ER doc here! This is a lie. Wait times are up because the American healthcare system is an unsustainable business model and a for-profit national healthcare system just doesn’t work. These problems will continue to get worse until we change that system. It literally has nothing to do with immigrants
Germany’s Merz backs using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine—with Donald Trump reducing US support for Kyiv and refusing to sign off on fresh sanctions against Moscow, pressure is mounting to use the frozen assets. www.ft.com/content/3ac0... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com
