Turbulent Political Year 2025 Shapes German Politics Amid International Tensions

The year 2025 was marked by significant political upheavals impacting Germany domestically and on the international stage. In the United States, Donald Trump was inaugurated as President for a new term on January 20, 2025, declaring the start of America’s “Golden Age.” His administration quickly ignited controversies with policies on tariffs and immigration that reverberated globally.

Within Germany, a shocking knife attack in Aschaffenburg catalyzed a heated national debate on illegal migration. CDU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz responded by proposing a "de facto entry ban" on illegal migrants, leveraging the incident to focus his election campaign on migration issues. This stance, combined with Merz's coalition agreement with the far-right AfD party, ignited widespread protests across Germany under the slogan “We are the firewall - No cooperation with the AfD.” Merz’s political journey was arduous: he initially failed to secure the chancellorship in May but won a second vote to assume office later in the year.

Internationally, tensions strained relations between the West and Russia. At the Munich Security Conference, controversial speechmaker JD Vance criticised European democracies, causing unease among Germany’s allies. A public confrontation during a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy culminated in Zelenskyy's removal from the White House, underlining fraught US-Ukraine relations.

Further, tensions with Russia escalated over the reported kidnapping of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. A central German research project investigating these abductions is nearing the end of its funding amid skepticism from the Trump administration, which views the project as an obstacle to a deal with Russia. Experts warn of potentially irreversible consequences from these actions.

Additionally, Trump’s unexpected meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska shocked observers worldwide. The year ended with the US announcing a new national security strategy that positioned Europe as an adversary. In response, Chancellor Merz called for Germany to independently strengthen its defense capabilities, emphasizing the need for national resilience amid uncertain international alliances.

Overall, 2025 saw Germany grappling with domestic political turbulence fueled by migration and far-right controversies while navigating complex international challenges linked to US and Russian policies.