German Foreign Policy and Statecraft since 2000 : regional Hegemon, Global Dwarf?

Kurzfassung/Abstract

Germany has received many international roles over the last couple of decades: for example, the continent’s “reluctant hegemon” and even the “leader of the free world”. Germany has a global diplomatic presence and reach. It operates 227 missions abroad, including 153 embassies, 54 consulate-generals, seven consulates, 12 permanent missions – for example, to the United Nations – and one other mission. In taking the lead during the constitutional crisis or aftermath of the Ukraine invasion, Germany lived up to the expectations held by other European states. Indeed, an array of additional substantive disagreements have arisen in recent years. Over the last two decades, the Russo-German relationship has noticeably deteriorated. Economic considerations have dominated Germany’s interactions with China for decades. Foreign deployments have become more frequent as well as increasingly “non-European” in terms of operational theatres.