German Business Leader Urges Germany to Take a More Active Role in International Affairs
As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz prepares to meet with US President Donald Trump, Julia Friedlander, the head of the Atlantic Bridge, a German-American business organization, has called for Germany to take a more active role in international affairs. Friedlander, an American living in Germany, believes that Germany’s reluctance to take on more international responsibility is a source of frustration for the United States.
Economically, Germany is a significant player, but in foreign policy, it is hesitant to take on more responsibility, Friedlander told the Spiegel in an interview. She suggests that Chancellor Merz can use his visit to emphasize Germany’s commitment to international cooperation and to invest more in European defense.
Friedlander also sees opportunities for Europe in the ongoing trade dispute with the US. The European Commission can use the current situation to negotiate a deal with the US, she said, as the economic conditions for Europe and Germany are currently favorable, while those for the US are not.
Friedlander’s comments come as a US court has ruled that most of the tariffs imposed by Trump are unlawful. While the trade war is not over yet, with the Supreme Court ultimately set to decide the matter, Friedlander believes that the uncertainty will continue to affect businesses until a resolution is reached. She suggests that the EU could use this time to present compromise proposals to Trump, which could be a way out of the impasse for him.