John Mearsheimer’s address to the European Parliament paints a bleak picture of Europe’s strategic outlook, arguing that the post–Cold War order has collapsed while the continent is still underprepared for a world shaped by great-power rivalry. His core message hits Germany squarely: no European country is more exposed to the consequences of slow rearmament, dwindling defence stockpiles, and economic dependencies that limit strategic freedom. Berlin’s long reliance on US security guarantees, Russian energy, and Chinese markets now looks increasingly fragile. Mearsheimer’s warning lands at a moment when Germany is trying to rebuild its defence industry, diversify supply chains, and redefine its role in Europe’s security architecture. The gap between Germany’s ambitions and its current capabilities is exactly the kind of vulnerability his speech urges Europe to confront.
Watch the full address on The American Conservative’s YouTube Channel.
In this Bloomberg interview, Luxembourg’s finance minister Gilles Roth argues that Europe must urgently sharpen its competitiveness and rethink how it engages with global trade. He warns that the world is drifting toward more fragmented trading blocs, and the EU cannot afford to be caught unprepared. Roth stresses that Europe needs to “focus on itself” by strengthening its industrial base, simplifying regulations, and investing in innovation so that companies aren’t tempted to shift production outside the continent. He also touches on the debate around using Russia’s frozen assets, reflecting the broader geopolitical pressures shaping Europe’s economic decisions.
For Germany, Roth’s comments hit directly on familiar pressure points. As Europe’s biggest economy and its traditional export powerhouse, Germany’s slowdown has amplified worries about the EU’s overall competitiveness. High energy prices, ageing infrastructure, and slow digital progress mirror the structural weaknesses Roth describes. Berlin’s recent decision to boost public investment and modernise its industrial base is essentially a response to the same challenges he warns about. And his point about avoiding global trade fragmentation resonates strongly with Germany’s situation: if Germany fails to adapt and lead, the entire EU risks losing ground to faster-moving competitors like the U.S. and China.
Watch in detail on Bloomberg for a clear take on Europe’s competitiveness challenge.
Germany is investing €500 billion over 12 years to modernize its infrastructure, expand clean energy, and upgrade public services such as hospitals, schools, and universities. The government aims to improve daily life, restore competitiveness, and address high energy costs that burden key industries. Key projects include railway modernization, geothermal energy expansion, and the Noi Connect interconnector linking Germany and the UK to better use renewable energy.
This spending spree is critical not only for Germany’s long-term economic resilience but also for the business community, which relies on reliable infrastructure and energy access to maintain competitiveness. For diplomats, these initiatives signal Germany’s ability to strengthen cross-border cooperation and energy security, while policymakers must navigate the balance between ambitious investments and rising public debt. Ensuring that funds are efficiently spent, and projects move forward despite bureaucratic hurdles will determine whether Germany can transform this historic investment into sustained growth and international leadership in sustainable development.
To learn more about Germany’s spending spree and its relevance for Germany, business, diplomats, and policymakers, visit DW News YouTube Channel.
This recent DW News documentary, “Europe’s Industry vs. China: Can It Compete?” (published October 2025), explores how Europe is confronting its deep economic interdependence with China across critical sectors such as electric vehicles, solar technology, semiconductors, and rare earth supply chains. It examines the EU’s efforts to implement the Net-Zero Industry Act, diversify trade partnerships, and safeguard strategic industries amid rising competition and global fragmentation.
The documentary provides timely lessons for those shaping industrial strategy, trade policy, and international economic relations, highlighting how Europe’s push for industrial sovereignty influences both economic resilience and broader geopolitical positioning.
To watch the full documentary, visit the DW News YouTube Channel.
The new season of The Diplomat is now streaming on Netflix, diving deeper into the high-stakes world of international diplomacy. Season 3 focuses on crises ranging from regional conflicts to global summits, exploring the complex interplay between national interest, multilateral negotiation, and public perception. Key episodes highlight emergency negotiations over trade disputes, cyber diplomacy in response to security breaches, and behind-the-scenes coordination at NATO and UN meetings.
The show also portrays the subtle art of protocol and trust-building: from arranging state dinners and ceremonial events to managing relationships with embassies and international delegations elements that echo real challenges faced by diplomats worldwide. Storylines touch on contemporary issues such as nuclear deterrence, economic sanctions, and climate diplomacy, making the series particularly resonant for Berlin’s diplomatic community.
We invite readers to reflect: how accurately does The Diplomat portray real diplomatic life, especially in the context of today’s challenges like global trade tensions, strategic deterrence, and multilateral negotiations? Share your thoughts at editorial@diplomacy.berlin, and selected insights may be featured in an upcoming edition.
Al Jazeera’s three-part documentary series explores the realities of climate change while highlighting innovative solutions. Episode 1, Into the Storm, examines extreme weather and melting ice in Greenland, rising sea levels, and ecological crises in Malawi and Siberia. Episode 2, Against the Tide, focuses on adaptation strategies, featuring sea barriers in the Netherlands and community resilience in Wales, Bangladesh, and Florida. Episode 3, Decarbonising the Global Economy, addresses the urgent transition from fossil fuels, showcasing global approaches in Ukraine, the US, Sweden, and Finland. The series combines scientific insight with practical solutions, challenging viewers to take collective action to safeguard the planet.
Watch the full series on the official Al Jazeera website.
France’s government has been thrown into renewed turmoil after yet another Prime Minister, Sébastien Lacornu, resigned within weeks of taking office. His departure follows a string of failed leaders unable to pass a budget through the National Assembly, leaving President Emmanuel Macron politically cornered. Since losing his majority in 2022, Macron has relied on Article 49.3 to push laws through, provoking protests, no-confidence votes, and repeated deadlocks. Snap elections in 2024 worsened fragmentation, with gains for both the far left and far right. In a move that underscores both his lack of options and the depth of the crisis, Macron reappointed Lacornu despite the resignation, an act that signals paralysis as much as continuity. With just 18 months until the presidential election, the opposition has no incentive to compromise, making France appear nearly ungovernable. For Berlin, instability in Paris is more than domestic drama. Germany relies on the Franco-German axis to drive EU reforms, manage eurozone stability, and align on defense and industrial policy.
Watch the full analysis on TLDR News EU YouTube channel.
Wolfgang Becker’s Good Bye, Lenin! (2003) is a German tragicomedy cult classic set around the fall of the Berlin Wall. The story centers on Alex, whose mother, Christiane, a committed socialist, falls into a coma just before the collapse of East Germany. When she wakes up months later, the world she believed in is gone. To protect her from a fatal shock, Alex concocts an elaborate ruse: he rebuilds in their flat the illusion that the GDR still exists, deploying fake news, old-style products, and silent complicity from neighbors. The film weaves political satire, family drama, and the emotional weight of a society in flux. (Good Bye, Lenin! won Best Film at the 2003 European Film Awards, among other honors.)
The film isn’t just a personal tale it reflects Germany’s struggle to reconcile identity, memory, and modernization after reunification. It illustrates how political change is mediated through stories, public belief, and the “illusion machines” of media and symbolic power. For your audience interested in diplomacy, trade, or policy, Good Bye, Lenin! is a reminder that transitions are never just structural; they depend on how people imagine and believe in change.
Watch the full movie on Amazon.de.
Step back in time to Munich at the turn of the 20th century with Oktoberfest 1900, a gripping German drama series. Follow the ambitious brewer Mišel Matičević, Martina Gedeck, and Klaus Steinbachercity, all against the lively backdrop of Munich’s famous Oktoberfest.
Across six thrilling episodes, the show mixes history, rivalry, and suspense, bringing early industrial Bavaria to life. With standout performances the series has been praised for its authentic period details and intense, emotional storytelling.
Don’t miss this dive into ambition, tradition, and power in one of Germany’s most iconic folk festivals! Watch the series on Netflix.
CNN has highlighted Africa’s rapidly growing creative economy as a powerful driver of growth, cultural expression, and social cohesion. Contributing an estimated $4.2 billion annually to the continent’s GDP, the creative sector is emerging as a dynamic engine of innovation and opportunity.
Yet, despite its vibrancy, it receives less than 1% of global investment. Initiatives such as the UNDP’s Timbuktoo Creatives Hub and the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Summit are working to bridge this gap by mobilizing capital, empowering youth-led startups, and fostering growth in industries like film, music, fashion, and digital arts.
These efforts align with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), advancing regional integration and opening new pathways for trade, jobs, and inclusive development.
To learn more, watch the full feature on CNN.
This episode of DW Documentary explores how global shifts, including the battle for raw materials, climate change, and digitalization, are reshaping lives across seven regions. It highlights the transformative role of smartphones and global supply chains that connect countries and companies worldwide. Early hopes that globalization would erase borders and reduce inequality have not materialized. Rising tensions between the USA and China are creating new blocs and spheres of influence. Risk management and competition for global leadership now dominate production and trade decisions. With traditional Western economies stagnating and other regions surging ahead, the episode raises a key question: who are the true winners and losers in today’s evolving global order? Watch the full episode on DW Documentary’s Youtube channel.
In this Geopolitical Economy Report episode, Prof. John Mearsheimer maps the evolution of global power from a bipolar Cold War world to today’s dangerous multipolar system dominated by the US, China, and Russia. He explains that the current dual conflict dyads US-China and US-Russia pose greater risks than the Cold War’s US-Soviet rivalry. Mearsheimer applies his theory of international politics to analyze these conflicts, focusing on how Hungary, as a smaller power situated between these giants, navigates this volatile landscape. Watch the talk to understand Hungary’s complex position in today’s great power dynamics on the Geopolitical Economy Report’s YouTube channel.
The Geopolitical Economy Report episode “How the USA exploits Europe, treating its ‚allies‘ like vassals” examines the EU’s growing economic and strategic dependence on Washington under Donald Trump. Political economist Ben Norton highlights how one-sided trade and energy deals, punitive tariffs, and pressure to boost military spending have entrenched U.S. dominance, forcing Europe to rely on costly American LNG, cut welfare for defense budgets, and sacrifice strategic autonomy. He argues that Trump’s aggressive tactics, from “unequal treaties” to Nord Stream’s sabotage, reveal the transatlantic elite’s vested interest in Atlanticism. Without a decisive shift, Norton warns, Europe risks cementing its role as a U.S. vassal. Watch the full video on Geopolitical Economy Report’s Youtube channel.
In a recent video, former President Donald Trump claimed credit for halting the Nord Stream pipeline, which transported Russian gas directly to Germany. The move, framed by Trump as a strategic victory, has significantly altered Europe’s energy landscape by increasing EU’s reliance on U.S. oil and gas supplies. This move has sparked intense debate about the long-term consequences for European autonomy and energy costs. Critics argue that by effectively severing a key direct energy link, Europe’s dependence on transatlantic imports has grown, which raises questions about the resilience and diversification of the EU’s energy strategy. To understand what exactly is the Nord Stream, watch the full video on Geopolitical Economy Report Youtube’s channel.
The Financial Times documentary “Germany’s Spending Gamble” documents Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s historic 2025 move to loosen the country’s strict constitutional debt brake, unlocking €500 billion for urgent investments in infrastructure and defense. Facing decades of austerity, crumbling schools, roads, and transport, alongside growing external security threats, Germany is betting on large-scale public spending to modernize its economy and military capabilities. This decisive break from fiscal conservatism aims to stimulate growth, enhance state effectiveness, and secure Europe against geopolitical uncertainties. However, the success of this gamble depends on overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, resource constraints, demographic pressures, and managing political opposition, especially from far-right factions ready to capitalize on any failures. Germany’s spending pivot may reshape both its own future and Europe’s strategic and economic landscape. For more, see the full documentary on the Financial Times YouTube-Channel.
The documentary Our Forgotten European Stars | Ep. 1: Spinelli, created by EU Made Simple in collaboration with the Union of European Federalists (UEF), tells the remarkable story of Altiero Spinelli, a visionary imprisoned by fascists in 1941 who imagined a united Europe. When exiled to a remote prison island, Spinelli and fellows secretly authored the groundbreaking Ventotene Manifesto, a manifesto advocating for a federal Europe to prevent future wars by breaking from nationalism, thus laying the foundation for European federalism and the future EU. The film traces Spinelli’s journey from political prisoner to influential European Parliament member, highlighting his relentless fight for democratic unity amidst war and post-war challenges. It also reveals the radical origins of the EU integration project and the sacrifices of its founding fathers and mothers. For a deeper understanding of Europe’s transnational political roots and federalist ideals, watch the documentary on YouTube.
Berlin may be Germany’s political center, but it sharply deviates from the classic capital city blueprint by having little impact on the national economy. This documentary examines how Berlin’s 20th-century split, post-WWII industrial decline, and Cold War division broke its economic momentum, turning the city into a magnet for artists, squatters, and counterculture drawn by affordable space and creative freedom. While efforts to transform Berlin into a financial hub faltered, tourism and alternative scenes flourished, with the city embracing its “poor but sexy” image. Recent decades saw a startup boom and rising investment, yet gentrification now threatens Berlin’s unique cultural fabric as it seeks to balance growth with its distinctive identity. For a deeper dive into Berlin’s economic paradox and cultural tensions, watch the documentary on DW.
You can now stream this gripping English mini-series on Arte. It dives deep into the MeToo movement, media dynamics, public campaigns, and how reputations can be shaped—or destroyed—in the court of public opinion. The story kicks off when a well-known news anchor allegedly tells a sexist joke at a party, setting off a fast-paced, intense drama that plays out almost like a chamber piece, focused heavily on sharp dialogue and character interactions. The writing is tight, and the British cast delivers nuanced performances that really bring the tension and moral complexities to life.
You can watch all four episodes here on Arte: Douglas is Cancelled. It’s a must-watch if you’re interested in how media scandals unfold and the impact they have on individuals and society.