Monday, 17 August 2026Europe · Analysis
Independent · Brussels & Berlin
Person
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, German Federal Foreign Office
Germany and Sweden lead calls to end unanimity as Hungary blocks €90 billion Ukraine loan and West Bank settler sanctions, exposing a system unable to match the speed of geopolitical crises.
European foreign ministers rule out naval mission in the Gulf while warning that soaring oil and gas prices are handing Russia a windfall and diverting air defences from Ukraine.
Greens edge CDU by half a percentage point in the first of five 2026 state votes as diesel hits €2.20 a litre and the chancellor pins war responsibility solely on Tehran.
Berlin is turning to Ankara for artillery ammunition, drone technology and industrial capacity, while Turkey seeks entry to the EU's €150 billion SAFE financing programme.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul says no alliance member will face Russian provocations alone, while Ukraine's president proposes a shared aerial defence system at Warsaw Security Forum.
Beijing imposes duties of up to 34.9 per cent on EU brandy from 5 July while restricting rare earth exports, as the EU faces a 9 July US tariff deadline and prepares for a strained 50th anniversary summit with China.
Kaja Kallas presents findings suggesting Israel may have breached human rights obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement, as Spain and Ireland push for suspension while Germany urges restraint.
Friedrich Merz takes office leading a CDU-SPD coalition that has already torn up the debt brake, promising a €500bn off-budget fund for infrastructure and defence while pledging to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
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