Chancellor Friedrich Merz is traveling to China for a belated inaugural visit. A lot is at stake as Germany is in search of global partners after the US has relinquished much of its longstanding role.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said today that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "at the very bottom of barbarism".

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused Russian President Vladimir Putin's Russia of having reached the “deepest level of barbarism”, on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. During a

Friedrich Merz, kanslari Þýskalands, fordæmdi „algjöra villimennsku Rússa“ gagnvart Úkraínu, undir stjórn Vladimírs Pútíns Rússlandsforseta, í ræðu sem hann flutti í Berlín fyrr í dag, en á morgun eru

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is scheduled to visit China, indicating upcoming diplomatic engagements between the two nations.

A debate is ongoing in Germany regarding the potential implementation of mandatory real names for online users, with politician Friedrich Merz advocating for it.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected in China, facing the complex mission of strengthening the EU while simultaneously representing German economic interests.

Republikanski predsednik še naprej za carinske gorjače, nemški kancler Friedrich Merz pa upa na manjše breme za gospodarstvo njegove države in vse Evrope.

Belgium's Defense Minister, Theo Francken, announced that the country will redefine its position regarding the future combat air system (SCAF) project, following statements from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Friedrich Merz, a German politician, is rejecting the MAGA movement and significantly increasing Germany's defense capabilities, though some experts believe it's still not enough.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to arrive in Beijing with a significantly tougher trade stance compared to his predecessors, signaling a shift in Germany's approach to economic relations with China.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing for a high-stakes visit to Beijing, facing a new reality in China-Germany relations.

Germany's Friedrich Merz has joined calls for implementing limits on social media access for children.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is working to protect German industry from the economic challenges posed by intense competition from China.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his conservatives have seen a dip in the polls following weeks of debates over controversial proposals. This comes as Germans express increasing concern over social inequality.

At a time when German industry is frequently slammed for being too slow and reluctant to change, there is one area in which industrialists have noticed rapid evolution. “The speed at which our position towards China has changed and at which our members are changing their minds on China – it’s China speed,” said Oliver Richtberg, head of the foreign trade department at Germany’s Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA). Richtberg’s group represents more than 3,000 of Germany’s “hidde...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is scheduled to visit China.

Cancelarul german Friedrich Merz a acuzat luni Rusia lui Vladimir Putin că se află „la cel mai jos nivel al barbariei”, declaraţia fiind făcută în ajunul împlinirii a patru ani de la invadarea Ucraine

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that World War II lasted four years, a comment that the Polish Minister of Interior and Administration, Marcin Kierwiński, called 'unfortunate,' reminding that the war lasted from 1939 to 1945.

Il cancelliere tedesco Friedrich Merz si confronterà con il presidente Usa Donald Trump sui dazi con un fronte europeo unito. Lo ha dichiarato lo stesso Merz, dopo che la sentenza...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has advocated for an end to general internet anonymity, stating that users should post under their real names.

Republikanski predsednik še naprej za carinske gorjače, nemški kancler Friedrich Merz pa upa na manjše breme za gospodarstvo njegove države in vse Evrope.

A hacker, Hugo, infiltrated a Russian disinformation campaign that spreads anti-Chancellor Friedrich Merz content online and supports the far-right AfD party, revealing the operations of 'KGB 2.0'.

ECB Quietly Prepares Global Liquidity Backstop As Euro Debt Wave Builds Submitted by Thomas Kolbe Starting in the third quarter of 2026, new rules will apply to the so-called euro repo facility. Central banks worldwide will be able to post up to €50 billion in euro-denominated collateral, such as government bonds, with the ECB in order to obtain euro liquidity from the central bank in cases of acute need. The goal is to guarantee the permanent availability of euro liquidity, replacing the previously time-limited repo lines. Central banks typically resort to this monetary policy instrument during phases of acute liquidity stress — most recently during the COVID lockdowns. The repo facility counts among the central banks’ immediate crisis tools. The so-called EUREP (Eurosystem Repo Facility for Central Banks) was launched on June 25, 2020, as a short-term liquidity solution for associated central banks: the Central Bank of Kosovo drew €100 million, Montenegro €250 million in short-term liquidity assistance. Repo auctions generally involve the exchange and short-term pledging of European government bonds for maturities of one to five days, which commercial banks deposit at the central bank in return for liquidity. The collateral is returned after a short period, and the so-called bank reserves are withdrawn again once the liquidity problem has been resolved and the interbank market is functioning properly. The ECB’s announcement that it will now offer this instrument globally — and over periods of several weeks or even months — raises eyebrows. It suggests that the monetary guardians of the Eurosystem may be anticipating a liquidity crisis in the not-too-distant future. Euro as a Reserve Currency The drastic expansion of sovereign debt within the eurozone system may explain why concerns are deepening at the ECB tower. If the two pillars, Germany and France, are each calculating net new borrowing of five percent this year alone — thereby placing a steadily growing volume of bonds on the markets — this generates palpable upward pressure on interest rates. At the same time, investors are asking how strongly the creditworthiness of individual euro states ultimately depends on Germany’s ability to service the mounting debt — a pressure that is manifesting itself in markets. Interest rates have already been rising for more than three years, particularly at the long end of the bond market. This suggests that confidence among large investors, who traditionally provide the bulk of liquidity in this market, is gradually eroding. Meanwhile, the euro is under pressure internationally: euro-denominated reserves currently account for less than 20 percent of global bank reserves and show a slight downward trend. Similar developments can be observed in the settlement of international transactions, where the euro holds roughly a 24 percent share. The dominant global actor remains the U.S. dollar, both as a reserve currency with a 59 percent share and in the settlement of international transactions at 47 percent. Against this backdrop, it becomes clear that Europe’s monetary authorities are facing an increasingly challenging combination of rising debt, growing interest rates, and a global environment that does not accord the euro the status of the U.S. dollar — factors that pose serious questions for the Eurosystem’s stability and liquidity. A severe blow to the euro’s international role was the European Union decision to permanently implement the Russia embargo and halt trade in Russian oil and gas. Russia had been among the few major energy market players willing to allow euro denomination and thus held substantial reserves. That era is over. However, rumors are circulating that the United States, in the event of a peace settlement in Ukraine, could restore Russia’s access to the SWIFT system. Would the EU then follow suit? A return to the status quo ante might require a different political regime in Brussels and Berlin. Growing Debt Volume A fiscal policy U-turn within the EU is also under discussion. Should member states agree on a “two-speed Europe” and implement joint financing of new debt via so-called Eurobonds, this would place the European bond market on an entirely new footing in terms of both volume and structure. European taxpayers — above all the still relatively less indebted Germans at the federal level — would then stand behind the credit guarantees. In Frankfurt, such a revolutionary step is expected to deliver a massive boost in global demand for euro-denominated bonds. One unknown in the geopolitical power struggle remains the Federal Reserve. On several occasions last year, the ECB warned of a possible shortage of U.S. dollars within the European banking system. The United States holds a powerful lever here: it can drive up the political price of bridging potential illiquidity through rapid swap lines — short-term loans within the dollar system to European banks and the ECB. Oversupply of Euro Bonds The Eurosystem thus faces immense absorption problems. If global demand for EU debt — that is, euro bonds — cannot be generated, interest rates will continue to rise. In light of the massive issuance wave of new euro sovereign bonds, the ECB would be forced to take this debt onto its own balance sheet to keep debt servicing in member states under control. The expansion of the repo facility into a permanent liquidity backstop therefore appears plausible. Global central banks would have an incentive to accumulate a growing share of euro bonds. Moreover, the volume would be available to gain direct access to the Eurosystem without assembling a portfolio of bonds from individual states. Germany’s relatively low debt level had in fact recently been a problem, as insufficient tranches of German federal bonds were available for larger capital allocations. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his finance minister are currently eliminating this issue with their present debt policy. The ECB’s measures thus fit into a broader fiscal policy development that could culminate in a structural expansion of joint debt. By institutionally safeguarding international demand for euro bonds, the central bank is creating the infrastructural preconditions for a potential new debt regime within the European Union — while simultaneously shifting the boundary between monetary stabilization and fiscal support of state budgets. The European repo facility, once conceived as a rescue umbrella for liquidity problems, is gradually evolving into a classic, expanding debt pool. With eurozone government debt likely to rise from the current 92 percent of GDP to around 100 percent over the next two years, pressure on the ECB to devise mechanisms for distributing this flood of debt across global bond markets will intensify. Whether this succeeds appears highly doubtful given the euro economy’s chronic economic weakness. * * *  About the author: Thomas Kolbe, a German graduate economist, has worked for over 25 years as a journalist and media producer for clients from various industries and business associations. As a publicist, he focuses on economic processes and observes geopolitical events from the perspective of the capital markets. His publications follow a philosophy that focuses on the individual and their right to self-determination. Tyler Durden Fri, 02/20/2026 - 08:30

The deregulation agenda being pushed by Germany’s chancellor and Italy’s prime minister is economically and ethically flawed When the European Union launched its green deal in 2019, putting into law the goal of climate neutrality by the middle of the century, it showed strategic foresight as well as global leadership. Russia’s war in Ukraine has starkly underlined the extent to which the continent’s energy security – and its future prosperity – is dependent on the transition away from fossil fuels. Lately, however, EU leaders’ environmental approach appears to be echoing the youthful St Augustine’s plea on chastity: make us greener, but not yet. The recent European Industry Summit in Antwerp made unusually big headlines thanks to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s xenophobic outburst over immigration. But it was also notable for fierce attacks on one of the most important pillars of EU environmental policy. The bloc’s emissions trading system (ETS) – which makes polluters pay for the C02 they emit – has achieved dramatic results in driving down overall emissions since 2005 and encouraging green innovation. Worryingly, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, appeared to sympathise with demands from Sir Jim and other CEOs for a radical relaxation of the rules. Continue reading...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned at the Munich Security Conference that the rules-based international order is eroding, with Europe bearing some responsibility.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has reached 'the very bottom of barbarism'.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who heads to Beijing this week, had warned last year in relation to China that economic dependencies make Germany “susceptible to blackmail”. As chancellor, he confronts an export model under strain, a deteriorating transatlantic environment and the fiscal reality that moral posturing does not sustain an industrial economy. Merz has never been shy about stating where he stands. As chairman of the non-profit Atlantik-Brucke from 2009 to 2019, he boosted the vi...

Nemecký kancelár Friedrich Merz ostro odsúdil ruský režim a zdôraznil, že Moskva po štyroch rokoch vojny ukazuje bezprecedentnú brutalitu. Zároveň vyzval európske krajiny na jednotné a neochvejné pokr

Friedrich Merz a declarat luni că lupta Ucrainei împotriva atacurilor rusești a fost mai eficientă decât s-a crezut adesea, cancelarul german dând drept exemplu în acest sens neașteptatele câștigurile

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party wants to end the option of employees getting a sick note by phone. Its coalition partner, however, opposes the proposal. DW has the latest.

As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rightly emphasized at this year's Munich Security Conference, Europe's fate now rests entirely in its own hands. Continuing business as usual in the European Union will not be enough for Ukraine's membership.

NJEMAČKA će u razgovorima o carinama s Donaldom Trumpom nastupiti s jedinstvenim europskim stavom, izjavio je danas njemački kancelar Friedrich Merz, nakon što je Vrhovni sud SAD-a zadao udarac opsežn

German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has reaffirmed Germany’s unwavering and unconditional support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia and warned against appeasing the aggressor.

Friedrich Merz to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing as China overtakes US as country’s leading export destination

Germany’s ruling conservatives on Saturday passed ⁠a motion to ban social media use for under 14s and introduce more stringent digital verification checks for teenagers, building momentum for such limits in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. At a party conference in the city of Stuttgart, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union also called for fines for online platforms that failed to enforce such limits and European ‌Union-wide harmonisation of age standards. A growing number of...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to visit China shortly after the Lunar New Year, making him the latest European leader to do so amid ongoing tensions with the US.

Europe is supposed to be collaborating more on defense in response to Trump. But German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has signaled his country may exit the FCAS flagship deal to jointly build a warplane with France.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he would consider a ban on social media for under-16s. Meanwhile, Berlin's ambassador to Iran is summoned for a reprimand over "anti-Iranian activities" in Germany. DW has more.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his displeasure regarding the standing ovation given to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference.