“I hope that a German foreign policy in 2028 will be part of a European foreign policy, because even the strong country of Germany won't really have a voice in the world if it is not part of a European voice.” WorldCountryStrongPolicyForeign Policy Author:Sigmar Gabriel
“It is clear that Germany needs a foreign policy in which we jointly define European interests. Thus far, we have often defined European values, but we have been much too weak in defining mutual interests. To preempt any possible misunderstandings: We cannot give short shrift to our values of freedom, democracy and human rights.” GivingValuesInterestDemocracyPolicyWeakHuman RightsMutualForeign PolicyMisunderstanding Author:Sigmar Gabriel
“In the past, Germany could rely on the French, the British and, especially, the Americans, to assert our interests in the world. We have always criticized the U.S. for being the global police, and it was often appropriate to do so. But we are now seeing what happens when the U.S. pulls back. If the U.S. leaves the room, other powers immediately walk in. In Syria, it's Russia and Iran. In trade policy, it's China. These examples show that, ultimately, we are no longer achieving either - neither the dissemination of our European values nor the advancement of our interests.” WorldPastValuesInterestAchievePolicyPoliceTradeRelySyria Author:Sigmar Gabriel
“The truth is that we have long had a multi-track Europe with very different objectives. The traditional differences between the north and the south in fiscal and economic policy are far less problematic than those that exist between Eastern and Western Europe. In the south and east, China is steadily gaining more influence, such that a few EU member states no longer dare to make decisions that run counter to Chinese interests. You see it everywhere: China is the only country in the world that has a real geopolitical strategy.” WorldLongDifferentRealCountryRunningInterestDecisionInfluenceEconomicPolicyTruth IsStrategyWesternDareChineseEastern Author:Sigmar Gabriel
“Madame Merkel knows very well that her conservative Christian Democratic Union or CDU, and the CSU, the Bavarian sister party to the CDU, with which it shares power nationally, must change their European policies. The FDP's nationalist-liberal position on Europe is presumably one of the reasons the attempt failed to form a Jamaica coalition government which would have seen the CDU, FDP and Green Party govern together.” ReasonChristianTogetherPartySharePolicyDemocraticConservative Author:Sigmar Gabriel
“The task for Germany today is - through its own policies and its own structural reforms, its own investments - to support the EU and the Commission... but every nation has to have the courage to broach such structural reforms and speak clearly about them without making people be afraid.” PeopleTodaySpeakNationsSupportEconomyPolicyTasksInvestmentReformGermany Author:Sigmar Gabriel
“Finding the right form of debate regarding Israeli policies will remain a challenge in Germany. Even with every conceivable and warranted criticism, the danger always arises that it will be exploited by those who consciously or unconsciously present anti-Semitism in a new guise.” FormChallengesDangerPolicyFindingsCriticismDebateAriseGermanyIsraeliAnti SemitismGuise Author:Sigmar Gabriel
