Last week, in the midst of various national and international challenges, the Christian Christian Democratic Party (CDU) of Germany and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), announced A coalition agreement With the Social Democrats of Center-Gauche (SPD). This coalition, unofficially known as the Grand Coalition, aims to revitalize Germany, the fourth world economy and the largest in Europe, in the light of concerns concerning a potential recession due to an imminent trade war. However, the coalition agreement was announced at a time when the extreme right alternative for Germany (AFD), which ranked second in the elections on February 23, exceeded the CDU in a national opinion poll for the first time.
“The coalition agreement is a very strong and clear signal for the citizens of our country. It is a strong signal for our European partners. Germany obtains a strong government “,” declared The Chancellor candidate, the Friedrich Merz of the CDU, alongside his partners of Coalition SPD in Berlin. In the light of the current trade war initiated by US President Donald Trump, Merz addressed the White House directly in English, adage“The key message to Donald Trump is that Germany is back on the right track.”
Merz has promised to increase defense spending and improve the competitiveness of the German economy. When the coalition agreement was announced, he underlines His commitment to reform and stabilize Germany, focusing on defense, economy and migration. He said that “Europe can count on Germany” and is committed to implementing a “solid plan to bring our country to the foreground”. Although Merz has not yet been elected as a German Chancellor – the new parliament should vote on May 6 – its election seems to be sure that the CDU / CSU and the SPD enjoy a majority of 13 seats in the Bundestag, a German parliament.
The long “responsibility of Germany” of 144 pages ” Coalition contract has highlighted various national and global problems. In particular, its foreign policy focused on a “united Europe” and a “secure Germany”. In addition to the NATO, the United States, China, Turkiye, Syria and many other countries and regions, the agreement also discussed the Indo-Pacific region. As part of the new government led by Merz, Germany will be clearly focused on Indo-Pacific.
The coalition agreement stressed that “[a] The stable, free and secure Indo-Pacific Region is of fundamental interest in Germany and the EU. “The future government is anxious to increase the role of Germany there, because the agreement promised that”[w]E will continue to maintain our presence in the region. »»
Among the countries of the Indo-Pacific Region, India, as an energy and security partner, is of great importance for the new coalition. “We strive to strengthen strategic relations with India at all levels, including in the global energy transition and in security cooperation,” said the coalition agreement. For geopolitical and geo-economic reasons, Germany has an increasing interest in India. Thus, India was also at the point under the previous coalition of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who to a certain extent has set up Germany pivot in India. His government had published a “Concentrate on India»Document last year a few days before Scholz’s visit to India in October 2024.
In addition to India, the new coalition also focuses on Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. The agreement stressed that “Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea are larger value partners for Germany and the EU”. Consequently, he said: “We will continue to continue our complete strategic partnerships with these countries and other important countries.”
This concentration on Indo-Pacific is not unique to the new government. In 2020, Germany adopted Political guidelines for Indo-Pacific Region, which underlined: “With the rise of Asia, the political and economic balance moves more and more to the Indo-Pacific. The region becomes the key to shaping the international order in the 21st century. ” Political guidelines have clearly articulated the fundamental interests and guiding principles of Germany, which will continue to serve as a basis for its strategic approach in Indo-Pacific during the mandate of the next government in Berlin.
Last year, the German ambassador to Singapore, while addressing The Singaporean Chamber of German Industry and Commerce stressed that “trade with the Indo-Pacific Region represents approximately a fifth of world trade in Germany. Jobs in Germany depend on trade with this dynamic region. ” In addition, she stressed that “the countries of the Indo-Pacific Region shape the 21st century. Almost two -thirds of world GDP is generated here. In recent decades, this region has become a power in many ways. Its savings develop quickly and are well integrated into the world economy. Consequently, Germany aims to maintain a strong and lasting presence in the region to improve its geo-economic and geopolitical influence and its imprint.
The CDU-SPD coalition government will face many internal problems, mainly linked to migration and a narrowing economy, which is go to recession For the third consecutive year. With the Russia war in Ukraine and Trump’s trade war, challenges are expected to increase for the next government. However, Merz seems optimistic about its ability to restore the prominence of Germany, which is essential for the country at this time. To this end, the Indo-Pacific seems to be a foreign policy priority for the incoming government, which should give positive results if political directives are implemented effectively.