For the Christoph Heusgen diplomat, the new coalition is part of the one led by Angela Merkel in foreign policy.
Gathered by and
Christoph Heusgen, 66, has been a diplomatic advisor of Angela Merkel (2005-2017) and Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations in New York (2017-2021). He was elected, Monday, December 6, President of the Munich Security Conference, including the 58 e edition will be held from 18 to 20 February 2022.
Olaf Scholz succeeds In Angela Merkel as Chancellor this Wednesday, December 8th. On reading the coalition contract signed between the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and Liberals (FDP), do you think that his government will stand out from that of M me Merkel foreign policy?
Long little. Continuity wins widely, even if there are some nuances here and there. For example, I do not see the interest of Germany’s planned membership, such as “observer”, the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty [adopted at the UN in 2017], to which no state having the weapon Atomic has subscribed.
A Chancellor and a Minister of Social Defense Democrats, a Minister of Foreign Ecologist … Germany will defend more pacifist positions on the international scene?
One could think it when we know the traditional positions of these two parties. But the coalition contract is very clear, which surprised me positively. For example, I think about the possibility of using armed drones, or the recognition of “load sharing” and the participation of Germany with nuclear deterrence within NATO. On this, there is a total continuity with the previous government.
The new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalya Baerbock, does not exclude a prohibition of imports of products manufactured in the Chinese province of Xinjiang nor A boycott of the Olympic Games (OJ) Winter planned in Beijing in February 2022. Do you think the new German government is right to display such a firmness vis-à-vis China?
There are many challenges – climate, trade, Iranian nuclear … – that only if China is associated. That’s why it’s important for the new government to continue to dialogue with China. In terms of concrete issues, the US government has just decided a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics, and the German Supply Chain Act, adopted this year, aims at the serious violations of human rights, such as those committed. In Xinjiang. The statements of the new Minister of Foreign Affairs are part of this framework. She sends a clear message.
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