Germany’s Foreign Policy at Ten Months + Fear and Opportunity in Emerging Markets + Europe’s Race Against Russia + Germany’s Spending Turn + AU–EU Health Partnership + Watching China in Europe
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the Diplomacy Berlin Newsletter.
This week, we begin with a conversation that looks ahead not just to 2035, but to the kind of future Berlin wants to build. Henning Wehmeyer, Managing Director of EXPO 2035 Berlin, shares how a decentralized world exhibition could turn the entire city into a living showcase of innovation, community, and global cooperation. It’s an inspiring reminder that diplomacy, too, begins at the local level in the way cities open their doors to the world.
From there, we shift to the broader landscape of Germany’s role in that world: the country’s 2025 Foreign Policy Plan, ten months on, reveals both resolve and restraint; economic stories unfold through Germany’s massive new spending push, Europe’s struggle to stay united against Russian provocations, and a growing appetite for investment in emerging markets.
We also turn our attention to the Africa–Europe health partnership a timely complement to this week’s OECD Africa Development Dynamics pre-launch in Berlin and to understand China’s role in Europe.
As always, we close with moments of reflection and celebration of Angola’s and Poland’s Independence Day on November 11 both reminders of how freedom and identity continue to shape the global conversation.
With best regards,
Sigrid Arteaga
EXPO 2035 Berlin – The City as Exhibition
Berlin doesn’t just want to host a World Expo in 2035 it wants to become one. The EXPO 2035 Berlin is conceived not as a fenced-off fairground, but as a city-wide exhibition: decentralized, open, and close to its citizens. Its goal: to make the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals visible – not as distant visions, but as lived reality.
In conversation with Henning Wehmeyer, Managing Director of EXPO 2035 Berlin, we explore the power of ideas, the balance between diversity and unity and why the future always begins now.
The concept of EXPO 2035 Berlin differs from previous world exhibitions – it’s designed to be decentralized. An exhibition that takes place everywhere needs more than locations; it needs a connection. How does a shared rhythm emerge from the city’s diversity?
The idea of a multi-centric world exhibition is deeply linked to Berlin itself. Of course, there will be a central site where nations present themselves in pavilions – but we also want to activate the city: its neighborhoods, its spaces, its people.
Each district will have its own pavilion where residents can showcase local projects. EXPO 2035 Berlin aims to make visible what already exists in this city – from balcony solar panels to swimming in the River Spree. The future doesn’t happen someday; it happens now.
You emphasize that ideas should be implemented immediately. How can you ensure that innovation doesn’t remain on paper but becomes truly visible?
By bringing together administration, politics, and civil society, and by removing the barriers that often prevent good ideas from becoming reality. There are so many promising projects that fail due to regulations. We want to show that transformation succeeds when it’s developed with people, not against them.
The diplomatic community in Berlin is showing great interest in the project. What role can embassies and international partners play?
A crucial one. Last year, we welcomed over forty ambassadors to the Max Liebermann House. A world exhibition needs global commitment – especially when it grows from civil society. In 2027, member states will decide which country will host EXPO 2035. If the diplomatic community in Berlin supports us, it sends a powerful signal: that diversity, dialogue, and cooperation are lived values here.
You’ve said the Expo must be supported by the whole world. But in a world so divided, with such different values – how can that work? Won’t it come down to the smallest common denominator?
I believe it’s the greatest common denominator: the understanding that global challenges affect every individual – climate, digitalization, food, and health. The shared awareness that no one can be left behind is essential. Democracy and togetherness are not self-evident everywhere, but they remain the key to humanity’s survival.
What should EXPO 2035 Berlin ultimately reveal – about the city, the country, and about us all?
That the future can be imagined with optimism. That diversity, dialogue, and encounter are not luxuries, but the foundations of stability. And that humanity – in all its differences – can be the element that connects us.
For more information, please visit Expo 2035 Berlin.
Germany’s 2025 Foreign Policy Plan: Ten Months on Achievements, Gaps, and the Road Ahead
Germany’s foreign policy in 2025 reveals the tension between crisis management and strategic ambition. Ten months after outlining its global plan, Berlin has sustained military and humanitarian support for Ukraine, aided civilians in Gaza and Sudan, and re-engaged diplomatically in Syria—all while modernizing its visa system to attract skilled workers and students. Yet its pursuit of global influence remains uneven. Entrenched conflicts, fragmented diplomacy, and domestic divisions continue to limit Germany’s capacity for long-term peacebuilding.
Despite these headwinds, Berlin’s commitment to multilateralism through NATO, the EU, the G7, and global climate frameworks underscores its enduring sense of responsibility. Whether it can turn this crisis-driven activism into coherent, lasting influence will determine not just Germany’s foreign policy success—but its standing as a global power.
To know more about it, read the full analysis on Diplomacy Berlin.
Who’s Afraid of Emerging Markets?
In a world of rising uncertainty, Pablo Alberto Behrens argues that Germany’s SMEs are letting fear and distorted headlines shape their view of emerging markets in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Negative coverage, he shows, often exaggerates risks while downplaying opportunity; reliable insights instead come from combining local perspectives with government reports, trade chambers, universities, media, and international organizations — and from careful analysis of cultural, political, and economic realities. By doing that, Behrens says, SMEs can shift from risk aversion to informed engagement.
Emerging markets are challenging but rich with potential — from Africa’s digital leap to Asia’s tech advances and Latin America’s growing consumer base. German SMEs that engage locally, manage risks realistically, and broaden their intelligence will find opportunities far beyond the familiar markets of the global North.
Read the full analysis by Pablo Alberto Behrens on Diplomacy Berlin.
Is Europe United Against Russia’s Provocations? - Race Against Time
As Europe redefines its strategic identity in an age of renewed confrontation, defense is no longer just about logistics and deterrence — it’s about who Europe wants to be as a security actor.
DW’s Michaela Küfner speaks with EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and Alexandra von Nahmen about Europe’s response to Russian provocations and the urgency of military readiness. Kubilius says the EU is transitioning from planning to the “delivery stage,” involving contracts, production, and procurement, as intelligence suggests Russia could test NATO’s resolve within the next few years.
Von Nahmen highlights a mindset shift across Europe, especially in Germany and the East, recognizing the Russian threat. Initiatives like the European Drone Defense Initiative address exposed capability gaps. Germany, among the world’s top ten arms exporters per capita, now leads by example — yet faces a defining question: can it strengthen Europe’s defense without losing the principles that shape its foreign policy identity?
To learn more about it, listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts.
Inside Germany’s Massive Spending Spree
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, visit the official YouTube Channel of DW News.
- When Central Asia Came to Washington. thediplomat.com
- Global Climate Policy Is Broken – Fixating on Emissions Won’t Decarbonize the World’s Economy. foreignaffairs.com
- Chinese retailer Shein wants dialogue with the French government after website suspension. scmp.com
- The Election Of Mamdani: What It Means – And What It Doesn’t Mean – Analysis. eurasiareview.com
- Nuclear Tests and Their Legacy of Harms in the Asia-Pacific. thediplomat.com
- South Sudan: Food security experts warn of worsening hunger crisis. africanews.com
- Japan Can Keep the Indo-Pacific Open and Free. foreignaffairs.com
Africa and Europe Strengthen (AU-EU) Health Partnerships
On November 5, 2025, delegates from the African Union and European Union met in Pretoria to reaffirm their AU-EU Health Partnership, ahead of the AU-EU Summit in Luanda. This long-standing collaboration focuses on health security, equity, and resilience, including vaccine manufacturing, digital health, public health institute support, and sustainable financing. Recent achievements include coordinated mpox vaccine responses, regulatory harmonization through the African Medicines Agency, and the launch of Coartem Baby, a malaria treatment for young infants.
The partnership is helping Africa build strong, self-sufficient health systems while strengthening EU-Africa ties. For the business community both in Africa and Europe, this partnership represents new opportunities for collaboration, investment, and shared global health leadership. The discussion echoes themes from the Africa’s Development Dynamics 2025 pre-launch at the OECD Berlin Centre, where policymakers and diplomats emphasized that infrastructure development is essential for Africa. Robust health systems are thus essential for productive economies, while infrastructure investment from transport to energy underpins access to healthcare. Together, these twin pillars reflect how Africa’s growth is increasingly shaped by partnerships that link economic transformation with human development.
To know more about the AU-EU Health Partnership and its impact on health systems, economic collaboration, and global health innovation, visit the official website of the European Commission.
Watching China in Europe - November 2025
In the latest German Marshall Fund briefing, Noah Barkin examines how the shifting power balance between Washington and Beijing is reshaping Europe’s strategic options, highlighting why Europe cannot remain a passive observer. Despite expectations that a second Trump term would harden U.S. policy toward China, Washington’s inconsistent approach has instead strengthened Beijing’s hand. China’s recent deal with the U.S. on rare earth exports leaves Europe exposed, particularly in critical sectors like automotive and defense. The crisis at Dutch chipmaker Nexperia illustrates how quickly Europe’s dependency on Chinese technology and materials can become a strategic vulnerability.
For Germany, the warning signs are flashing. Its automotive industry and military modernization rely heavily on rare earths and semiconductor components now caught in geopolitical crossfire. Yet Berlin’s slow response — marked by delayed strategies, bureaucratic confusion, and unclear guidance from its new National Security Council — shows Europe’s largest economy is still struggling to define a coherent China policy. As Barkin notes, Germany “is staring at the train as it hits us.”
Read the full analysis on the German Marshall Fund website.
DGAP Think Tank Lab
The Think Tank Lab at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) offers a unique platform for researchers, communicators, and policy professionals to strengthen the impact of evidence-based policy work in Germany and across Europe. Designed as a collaborative hub, the Lab provides training, peer-learning formats, and strategic guidance to help think tanks and research institutions sharpen their communication, advocacy, and organizational development. By connecting experts from diverse policy fields, it fosters innovation and exchange between academia, civil society, and politics. For anyone working at the intersection of research and public policy, the Think Tank Lab is an essential space to learn how ideas move from analysis to action.
To explore upcoming workshops and events, visit DGAP.
BKA Autumn Conference 2025 – Democracy under Pressure
Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt) will host its 70th annual Autumn Conference on 19–20 November 2025 at the RheinMain CongressCenter in Wiesbaden, with hybrid participation available via an online platform. As the BKA’s flagship event of the year, the conference brings together senior representatives from international security institutions, government, business, academia, and civil society.
Under the theme “Democracy under Pressure – Resilience in Policing,” experts will explore how hybrid threats, extremism, and disinformation challenge democratic systems and what strategies can strengthen institutional resilience. The conference aims to foster exchange on how modern policing can uphold democratic values while adapting to complex security realities.
For details and registration, visit the BKA Autumn Conference 2025 page.
Tucked away on Senefelderstraße in Prenzlauer Berg, Bricole brings a distinctly French spirit to Berlin’s dining scene with its refined take on petits plats small plates meant for sharing. The Michelin-starred restaurant, led by chef Fabian Fiedler, turns simplicity into sophistication, with seasonal ingredients transformed into delicate, inventive combinations. Expect artful dishes like roasted Jerusalem artichoke with hazelnut, trout with beurre blanc, or an indulgent cheese course that rivals any in Paris.
The atmosphere is intimate yet unpretentious, with a minimalist interior that lets the food do the talking. Paired with a curated wine list emphasizing European terroirs, Bricole offers a dining experience that feels both cosmopolitan and quietly Berlin-perfect for evenings that linger over conversation and craftsmanship.
Reservations can be made directly via bricole.de.
Just off Rosa-Luxemburg-Straße, Luiban is a dream come true for anyone who loves beautiful stationery and thoughtful design. The Berlin-based concept store curates an exceptional selection of notebooks, pens, Japanese paper goods, and minimalist desk accessories, each item chosen for its craftsmanship and timeless aesthetic. From finely textured writing paper and brass rulers to fountain pens and calligraphy sets, Luiban transforms everyday tools into objects of quiet pleasure.
Whether you’re a writer, artist, or simply someone who values the tactile joy of putting pen to paper, this shop invites you to slow down and reconnect with analog creativity in a digital age. For those who can’t visit in person, Luiban’s full collection is also available online at luiban.com.