Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Chancellor Olaf Scholz have to take a strong stand against China and Russia.
(Photo: Reuters)
At first glance, the new federal government is marching in lockstep on foreign policy: Foreign Minister Baerbock is traveling to Paris, Brussels and Warsaw, while Chancellor Scholz follows her closely with almost identical messages.
That was important, but still only the compulsory foreign policy program of every new German government. The first real test is still ahead of the traffic light coalition: How is it doing with Russia and China? For Scholz and Baerbock, this question will become the touchstone of their promise that in future Germany’s foreign policy will not only focus on its economic interests, but more on its values.
In his first interviews after the election of Chancellor, Scholz recalled the foreign policy of Brandt and Schmidt, which was strongly influenced by the social democratic belief in “change through trade”. That sounded as if he wanted to continue Merkel’s line of “as well as” with China in particular. Baerbock also wants a dialogue with Moscow and Beijing, but is also not afraid of harsh words to address the autocrats.
Morality alone, however, is not a strategy. Good foreign policy should always be guided by one’s own interests, which are always economic and should definitely be European. However, the experience with Beijing in particular – and this applies even more to Putin’s Russia – show that there is little to be gained from “eloquent silence” (Baerbock) on violations of international law and human rights, neither in foreign policy nor economically.
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20 years after joining the World Trade Organization, China is providing evidence that trade can take place without change. This applies not only politically, but also economically: For many European companies, the China euphoria has long since given way to disillusionment. For some, the Middle Kingdom is now considered a cluster risk.
Foreign Minister Baerbock should therefore not allow herself to be dissuaded from her hard line by cross shots from the Chancellery. Correct lines in foreign policy are more important than the Chancellor’s authority to issue guidelines.
This includes, for example, European solidarity with the EU partner Lithuania, which Beijing is currently trying to make politically compliant with economic sanctions. This includes a determination to close the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline should Putin invade Ukraine. And that includes a political boycott of the Winter Olympics in China, for which Berlin should campaign in the EU.
More: Skepticism, joy, hope – this is how foreign countries look at the new federal government.