The crisis in Iraq not only weakened the main pillars of the after-1945 global order, it also underlined the changes in the German foreign policy since Schroeder became Chancellor. For the first time since 1949, the federal government has renounced its traditionally equal relations with Paris and Washington, which led to the outburst of an unprecedented crisis in the relations between Germany and the United States. This crisis underlines the way Germany asserts itself on the international stage and is in stark contrast to the position of Schroeder’s predecessors. Although it does not question the numerous engagements of the Federal Republic in the world, nor its alliance with the US, it still reflects the new attitude of Germany, which now defends its national interests and acts as an European power, with European positions.

Hans Stark is a Researcher at Ifri and the General Secretary of the Comité d'études sur les relations franco-allemandes (Cerfa).

This content is published in French : L'Allemagne entre affirmation nationale et ancrage multilatéral