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Officials visit a natural gas pipeline facility in Lubmin, northeastern Germany. Since invasion of Ukraine, the country has effectively weaned itself off of Russian natural gas.
Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images

Germany warned about the danger of becoming economically dependent on China

Dec 1, 2022
After its over-reliance on the Kremlin for its energy, is Germany making the same mistake with Beijing?
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) welcomes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 4, 2022.
Photo by Kay Nietfeld/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Chemical giant BASF is under threat after Russians turn off the gas

Oct 4, 2022
Gas rationing by the Berlin government this winter could hit the German chemical industry and dent the global economy.
BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, may be forced to grapple with natural gas rationing if Germany experiences a cold winter.
Daniel Roland/AFP via Getty Images

Germany under fire from neighbors for its dependence on Russian energy

Aug 3, 2022
Fear that Russia may terminate all natural gas flows to Europe's largest economy is causing friction among EU countries.
Some countries in Eastern Europe objected to Germany building ties with Russia around natural gas imports via the Nord Stream pipeline. Now, Germany is scrambling to prepare for additional supply cuts.
Odd Anderson/AFP via Getty Images

As Russia limits Europe's natural gas supply, Germany pays the price

Jul 26, 2022
Europe's largest economy depends on Russian gas. Vladimir Putin is using it as a political weapon.
Last year, Russia supplied more than half of Germany’s natural gas.
Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images

After Ukraine invasion, Germany reconsiders trading with autocrats

Apr 12, 2022
Russia’s aggression has forced Germany to reconsider the notion that trade helps promote democracy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the German lower house of parliament on March 17. Zelenskyy has criticized Germany for failing to ban Russian gas.
Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images

Germany turns tough toward Russia over Ukraine invasion

Feb 28, 2022
Germany dropped its opposition to some tough new sanctions against Russia and is now stepping up spending on defense.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, seen above, announced 
a sharp increase in military spending on Sunday.
Clemens Bilan/Getty Images

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What kind of economy will Germany's new leader inherit?

As Angela Merkel’s term ends, Germany struggles with lagging COVID vaccinations, an energy transition and an undigitized economy.
Olaf Scholz is set to replace Angela Merkel as Germany's chancellor this week.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

How Germany's Ahr region found a way to sell wine after a devastating flood

Sep 28, 2021
Vineyards in the Ahr Valley were destroyed by the summer floods, but that opened up a unique business opportunity for the area. Meet FlutWein.
Peter Kriechel and Daniel Kollar (in shorts) are the founders of FlutWein, which has been successful selling wine from the flood-ravaged Ahr wine region.
Victoria Craig / BBC

Post-election, infrastructure question looms over Germany's flood-damaged regions

Sep 27, 2021
The town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler illustrates many of the climate change and infrastructure issues that have been part of the election's talking points.
A man rides his bicycle on streets destroyed by the flood in Bad Neuenahr, western Germany on August 25, 2021, weeks after heavy rain and floods caused major damage in the Ahr region.
INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images