Russia in Global Affairs

Deutsche Bank is Germany's largest (private) bank and, at the same time, its most controversial. It has left its mark on the German financial market as well as on the German economy, and it has been a trendsetter in its fundamental restructuring over the last twenty years. For ten years now, it has been mired in a deep crisis which threatens its very existence.

Strengthening the European Union and building a “sovereign and strong Europe” has been the central rationale for both the Christian and the Social Democrats to enter into what once used to be a Grand Coalition government in Germany. The growing weight of powers in the Far East and the not-so-Far East and the concomitant return of great power politics compels Europe to reassert its own (for the time being lacking) power.

Donald Trump’s reckless policy vis-?-vis Iran has substantially changed the originally not very promising agenda of the Putin-Merkel meeting in Sochi on May 18, Hans-Joachim Spanger writes.

A careful management of diverging interests and lingering conflicts of Russia and China in Central Asia, and expanding economic links as a gradual approach to economic integration could amount to something the EU can learn—and benefit—from.

The views and opinions expressed in this Paper are those of the author and do not represent the views of the Valdai Discussion Club, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Germany will not become the main adversary of Russia in Europe but remains its main interlocutor on the continent – and Moscow is well advised to make proper use of that.