Friedrich Merz • Table.Briefings

News | Geopolitics

January 29th, 2026

Foreign policy: Chancellor Merz calls for more strategic independence

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls on Europe to play a more self-confident role in the “new world of great powers.”

By Amelie Richter

Friedrich Merz empfängt Giorgia Meloni im Kanzleramt

News | European policy

January 23rd, 2026

German–Italian government consultations: Why Merz prefers Meloni to Macron

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz often seeks to close ranks with Italy’s head of government Giorgia Meloni, including on defense policy. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will meet his Italian counterpart on Friday.

By Till Hoppe, Almut Siefert and Wilhelmine Stenglin

Feature | Foreign trade

January 23rd, 2026

SMEs: How far does Franco-German friendship extend in Africa?

This week is all about Franco-German friendship, as Thursday marked the 63rd anniversary of the Élysée Treaty. With regard to Africa, the key question is how sustainable this relationship remains amid an ongoing realignment.

By David Renke and Lucia Weiß

Feature | European policy

January 22nd, 2026

European Council: Why Merz prefers Meloni to Macron

Whether in response to Trump, the Mercosur agreement or the ban on combustion engines: The German chancellor often seeks to close ranks with Italy’s prime minister. His relationship with the French president, on the other hand, has cooled

By Till Hoppe and Almut Siefert

picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com | Saudi Press Agency

News | Syria

January 19th, 2026

Syria: Why interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has postponed his visit to Berlin

Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has canceled his trip to Germany at short notice, apparently due to a fragile ceasefire with Kurdish militias. The planned visit had drawn criticism in advance.

By Wilhelmine Stenglin

News | India

January 12th, 2026

India: Ambassador sees growing arms cooperation with Germany

The German ambassador in New Delhi, Philipp Ackermann, expects the German Chancellor’s trip to India to send out important signals on military cooperation.

By Maria Mitrov and Angela Köckritz

Heads (EN) | National Security Council

January 7th, 2026

National Security Council: Chancellor‘s Security Advisor Sautter takes over leadership for the time being

Günter Sautter takes over as interim head of the National Security Council from Jacob Schrot. This puts a long-standing diplomat at the head of the newly established body in the Federal Chancellery.

By Wilhelmine Stenglin

News | Ukraine

January 7th, 2026

Coalition of the willing announces security guarantees for Ukraine

At the meeting in Paris, numerous European heads of government and state decided to support a possible future peace in Ukraine with security guarantees. Exactly what Germany‘s role will be in this is still unclear.

By Gabriel Bub and Maria Mitrov

News | Ukraine

January 7th, 2026

Ukraine: Coalition of the willing agrees on security guarantees

At the meeting in Paris, numerous European heads of government and state agreed on security guarantees to support a possible future peace in Ukraine. Exactly what role Germany will play in this is still unclear.

By Gabriel Bub and Maria Mitrov

Talk of the Town | Peace negotiations

December 16th, 2025

Ukraine negotiations: Europeans enter the fray with proposals for their own multinational force

In the struggle for a ceasefire, Friedrich Merz and his counterparts are proposing a multinational force to help Ukraine — within the country itself, if necessary.

By Stefan Braun, Sara Sievert and Viktor Funk