Media, Migration and Power + Europe After Washington + Sovereignty Without Illusions + Africa’s Next Chapter
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the Diplomacy Berlin Newsletter.
As we move through a period of heightened political, economic, and informational tension, this edition of Diplomacy Berlin focuses on a question that quietly underpins them all: who shapes reality, and how much room is left to manoeuvre?
We begin in Berlin, where independent media is increasingly tested as both observer and actor in diplomacy, and where Germany is grappling with difficult domestic choices, from a sharp rise in voluntary returns to renewed debates about social cohesion and responsibility. Beyond Germany, Europe finds itself recalibrating. Washington’s sudden reversals have forced Brussels to rethink its playbook, while calls for greater European independence grow louder amid global upheavals.
At the same time, the limits of sovereignty are becoming clearer. Europe cannot fully decouple from global supply chains or technological ecosystems, yet climate stress, inequality, and risk politics are reshaping how power is exercised and contested. Finally, we look outward, as Horizon Europe expands its Africa initiative, reflecting a strategic recognition that Europe’s future influence depends not only on autonomy at home, but partnership abroad.
These stories are different in scale and geography, but they share a common thread: diplomacy today is less about grand declarations and more about navigating constraints, credibility, and consequence. That is the conversation we continue here.
With best regards,
Sigrid Arteaga
Between Power and Public Opinion: Why Independent Media Matters for Diplomacy
At a time when diplomacy is increasingly shaped by public and digital narratives, Berliner Verlag positions itself as an independent vantage point in political Berlin. Publisher Holger Friedrich speaks openly about the widening gap between published and actual public opinion— and why integrity and distance from power are essential for both media and diplomacy. A conversation about the role of independent press as seismograph, sparring partner, and at times corrective for international diplomacy.
In diplomacy, credibility is fundamental. Which values does Berliner Verlag represent – and how do you personally see yourself as an ambassador of those values?
We stand for openness to dialogue, respect, nonviolence, and a clear independence from political, state, or economic influence. I see myself as an ambassador of these values by embodying them in my daily work – not as a role model in the traditional sense, but as a conductor who creates the structures in which principled journalism can flourish.
Diplomacy requires reading interests that are not always expressed openly. What parallels do you see between diplomatic and journalistic work? What could you learn from the diplomatic world?
Germany is increasingly developing two layers of communication: an official, published opinion and a far more influential layer that is discussed behind closed doors. Diplomats must understand which of these truly reflects reality. Media can serve as a seismograph in this environment. We detect patterns, narratives, and shifts early on.Conversely, I learn strategic patience and precision from diplomats: words and actions must align.
International observers follow Germany closely. How do you explain the growing irritation abroad regarding German politics and media culture?
The more confidential the conversation, the clearer the irritation becomes. Germany clings to self-images that no longer reflect reality—economically, technologically, geopolitically. Many diplomats perceive the gap between aspiration and reality more clearly than we do. Media must make this gap visible so that realpolitik becomes possible again.
What role does Berliner Verlag play as an information point for diplomatic actors in Berlin?
We provide analysis beyond political and media bubbles. Our geopolitical reporting is now among the strongest in the country. International actors use our work to understand which debates are genuinely taking place in Germany—and where hidden lines of conflict lie.
With the new Ostdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, you are expanding your portfolio. What is your strategic ambition in the European context?
Eastern Germany has undergone transformations that other European regions have yet to experience. We aim to highlight these experiences journalistically and become the leading independent media house in this region. For diplomats, this means gaining access to an additional perspective on Germany—one they rarely receive elsewhere.
Germany Records Sharp Rise in Voluntary Returns
Germany has reported a significant increase in voluntary returns in 2025, with more migrants choosing to leave the country through assisted return programs rather than facing forced deportation. According to new figures, thousands of people opted for state-supported returns, often with financial assistance and reintegration support in their countries of origin. The trend reflects a broader shift in German migration policy, which increasingly emphasizes voluntary return as a more humane, cost-effective, and politically acceptable tool within a tightening asylum and migration framework. For Germany, this development matters beyond numbers: it signals how domestic political pressure, capacity constraints in the asylum system, and evolving EU-level migration debates are reshaping practical policy choices. It also affects Germany’s diplomatic relations with countries of origin, where cooperation on reintegration and readmission has become a key element of migration diplomacy.
Read the full report on InfoMigrants, with detailed data and policy context focused on Germany.
Climate Stress, Inequality, and the Politics of Risk
A new study published in Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Communications examines how climate-related stress is increasingly filtered through social inequality, political trust, and institutional capacity rather than environmental exposure alone. The research shows that climate impacts become politically destabilising when they intersect with weak governance, uneven economic protection, and low public trust, turning environmental shocks into broader social and political risks. Climate change, in this sense, is not just a physical phenomenon but a stress test for states and societies.
For Germany, the findings resonate strongly. As climate adaptation moves from abstract policy to lived reality, questions of social fairness, public trust, and institutional credibility are becoming central to domestic stability and international credibility alike. Germany’s climate leadership ambitions, both within the EU and globally, increasingly depend on whether climate policy is perceived as fair, inclusive, and capable of protecting vulnerable groups. The study helps explain why climate governance is now inseparable from social cohesion and why climate diplomacy must account for political legitimacy at home as much as emissions targets abroad.
Read the full study on Nature in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.
When Washington Blinks: Europe Rewrites Its Playbook
In this episode of EU Confidential, recorded on the ground at an emergency European Council meeting in Brussels, EU leaders grapple with the fallout from a turbulent week in transatlantic relations. After tariff threats, Greenland brinkmanship, and a dramatic Trump U-turn in Davos, the summit became less about crisis management and more about recalibration. The discussion captures a pivotal moment: Europe assessing whether standing firm actually worked, and what it learned from a U.S. approach that escalated fast, reversed course just as quickly, and still left allies deeply unsettled.
For Germany and the wider EU, the episode underscores a growing shift from reflexive alignment toward strategic self-assertion. Beyond Washington, the podcast also unpacks fractures within Europe itself — from divisions over Trump’s Gaza “Board of Peace,” to the sudden stalling of the Mercosur trade deal, and Ukraine’s dashed hopes for a security arrangement. Together, these threads point to a Europe under pressure to act with greater coherence, autonomy, and realism in a world where U.S. policy is no longer predictable.
Listen to the full episode of EU Confidential, produced by POLITICO, on Apple Podcasts.
Why Europe Can’t Fully Decouple — and What Sovereignty Really Means
In this episode of The Dip, Siemens Digital Industries CEO Cedrik Neike offers a grounded reality check on Europe’s sovereignty debate. While political rhetoric increasingly calls for technological and economic autonomy, Neike argues that full decoupling is neither realistic nor desirable in a deeply interconnected global system. Instead, the conversation shifts toward resilience: how Europe can reduce critical dependencies without isolating itself.
The discussion dives into practical tools like digital twins and scenario planning to prepare for black swan events — from supply chain shocks to geopolitical disruption. For Germany in particular, the episode speaks directly to the tension between industrial strength, global integration, and strategic preparedness. It’s less about cutting ties, and more about knowing where dependencies matter, how to manage risk, and how industry can complement policy in shaping Europe’s capacity to act.
Watch the full conversation on DW’s YouTube Channel.
Germany Calls for a More Independent Europe Amid Global Upheavals
Germany’s chancellor has urged European countries to accelerate efforts toward greater strategic independence as global political and economic shocks continue to reshape the international order. Speaking against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty, and strained transatlantic relations, the message was clear: Europe can no longer rely as heavily on external partners for its security, energy, technology, and economic stability. The call reflects growing concern that overlapping crises — from wars and supply chain disruptions to shifting U.S. priorities — are testing Europe’s ability to act decisively and collectively.
For Germany, this push is especially significant. As Europe’s largest economy and a country deeply embedded in global trade and alliances, Berlin faces the challenge of balancing openness with resilience. The chancellor’s remarks align with ongoing debates in Germany about defense readiness, industrial policy, energy security, and technological sovereignty. More broadly, they signal a shift in tone: from reacting to crises toward shaping Europe’s capacity to act in a more fragmented world.
The full story can be read via Anadolu Agency.
Horizon Europe Expands Africa Initiative Under 2026–27 Programme
The EU has launched the fourth phase of its Horizon Europe Africa Initiative, reinforcing research and innovation cooperation with African partners under the 2026–2027 work programme. The initiative focuses on areas where shared challenges demand joint solutions, including public health, climate resilience, digital transformation, food systems, and sustainable infrastructure. By aligning European research funding with African priorities, the programme aims to move beyond donor-recipient dynamics toward more balanced, long-term scientific partnerships.
For Germany, this matters on several levels. German universities, research institutes, and companies are among the most active participants in Horizon Europe, and stronger Africa-focused programmes open new pathways for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange. At the same time, the initiative reflects Berlin’s broader foreign policy emphasis on Africa as a strategic partner rather than a peripheral actor, linking research cooperation to development policy, economic engagement, and global competitiveness. For readers of Diplomacy Berlin, this story was chosen because it shows how science and innovation are becoming tools of diplomacy, shaping Europe–Africa relations in ways that extend well beyond traditional aid frameworks.
Read more about the initiative on the European External Action Service website.
Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)
The PRIF is one of Germany’s leading think tanks on peace and security, bridging rigorous academic research with real-world policy debates. Its work spans arms control, international security, conflict resolution, transnational threats, and the role of norms and international law in global order. For readers of Diplomacy Berlin, PRIF is especially worth following because it offers a distinctly German and European perspective on some of today’s most pressing challenges—from Russia’s war against Ukraine and nuclear deterrence to migration, authoritarianism, and the future of multilateral institutions—making complex security issues accessible and policy-relevant without losing analytical depth.
Follow the PRIF’s website to know more.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) will present The Military Balance 2026 at a high-level launch event bringing together policymakers, military leaders, diplomats, and security experts on the 24th February 2026. The annual report is one of the most authoritative assessments of global military capabilities, defence spending, force structures, and strategic trends. Against the backdrop of ongoing wars, rising defence budgets, and accelerating rearmament in Europe and beyond, the 2026 edition offers critical insight into how the international security environment is shifting. For Berlin’s diplomatic and security community, this event is a timely opportunity to ground debates on deterrence, NATO readiness, and European defence autonomy in hard data and strategic analysis.
Visit the IISS’s website to know more about the event.
If you’re after a place that feels unmistakably Berlin but still polished enough for a late diplomatic dinner, Crackers Berlin delivers. Tucked behind an unassuming façade near Gendarmenmarkt, Crackers blends seasonal European cuisine with a creative edge, serving dishes that are refined without being fussy. The menu shifts with the seasons, the cocktails are serious, and the long, candle-lit space hums well into the night. It’s the kind of spot where conversations stretch, plates are shared, and Berlin’s after-dark energy quietly takes over—ideal for an unhurried dinner or a late evening drink in the heart of the city.
If you’re looking for something unmistakably Berlin and a little bit theatrical, Maskworld is worth a visit. Known for its high-quality masks, costumes, wigs, and professional makeup, Maskworld sits at the intersection of performance, subculture, and craftsmanship. From film-ready prosthetics and carnival masks to bold statement pieces for festivals, club nights, or themed events, the shop caters to everyone from curious first-timers to seasoned performers. Especially around Halloween and Berlin’s costume-heavy party season, Maskworld is less about novelty and more about transformation—serious tools for anyone who wants to step into a different role, even if just for one night.
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