| Date: | 30.09.2026 |
| Time: | 13:00 - 14:15 |
| Location: | Zoom |
This event has passed.
Germany’s new foreign policy navigating national interests, peace-building, and humanitarian principles
Germany has announced a new interest-driven foreign policy. By summer 2026, it had already completed the restructuring of the Federal Foreign Office, which is intended to enable the effective pursuit of these interests in a global political landscape that has become significantly more conflict-ridden in recent years.
Supporters of this restructuring emphasise synergies and benefits across all policy areas, arguing that Germany’s interests and geopolitical goals and its values- and principles-based policies complement one another. Critics fear conflicting objectives and incoherent foreign policy approaches with regard to the protection of international law, Germany’s commitment to peace, humanitarian principles, or value-based development cooperation.
Taking Germany’s engagement in conflict regions such as Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine as examples, we discussed the recalibrated German foreign policy with senior officials from the Federal Foreign Office as well as leading experts in peace policy and humanitarian affairs:
Supporters of this restructuring emphasise synergies and benefits across all policy areas, arguing that Germany’s interests and geopolitical goals and its values- and principles-based policies complement one another. Critics fear conflicting objectives and incoherent foreign policy approaches with regard to the protection of international law, Germany’s commitment to peace, humanitarian principles, or value-based development cooperation.
Taking Germany’s engagement in conflict regions such as Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine as examples, we discussed the recalibrated German foreign policy with senior officials from the Federal Foreign Office as well as leading experts in peace policy and humanitarian affairs:
- Katharina Ahrendts, Head of Division, International Order, the United Nations, and Arms Control; Federal Foreign Office
- Sarah Meschenmoser, Head of Policy Department; Doctors Without Borders
- Gerrit Kurtz, Africa and Middle East Research Division; German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
The event was moderated by Ralf Südhoff, Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Action.
The event was held in German and recorded.
You can choose automated subtitles and translations in YouTube:
You can choose automated subtitles and translations in YouTube:
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