NATO under pressure: Can Germany be the European leader? | Berlin Briefing Podcast

Germany is facing a dilemma: its alliances are weakening and its dependence is growing. NATO is under pressure, US leadership is less predictable, and Europe is struggling to act as one. At the same time, power is shifting beyond the military: toward AI, digital infrastructure, and technological control. So where does Germany really stand and how much influence does it still have? From new alliances like the E3 and Weimar Triangle to stalled decision-making in NATO and the EU, Berlin has yet to define a clear strategy. In this special episode of Berlin Briefing from the Global Media Forum, DW’s Chief Political Correspondent Nina Haase and DW Head of Berlin Bureau Max Hofmann are joined by NATO and international security expert Gerlinde Niehus and Maximilian Mayer, Professor of International Relations and Global Technology Policy at the University of Bonn. Together, they ask: where does Germany hold real leverage and how can it help Europe become a strategic power? #berlinbriefing #dwgermanpolitics CHAPTERS: 0:00 'Bonn Briefing' Special 2:45 Germany in a Shifting Order 5:30 UN Setback, Credibility Questions 8:15 Values, Trust, Global Perception 11:00 NATO Under Pressure 13:45 Europe’s Leadership Gap 16:30 Strategy or Strategic Ambiguity? 19:15 Tech Dependencies and AI Risks 22:00 Defense Spending, Fragmented Europe 24:45 National Paths vs European Action 27:30 NATO Limits, EU Alternatives 30:15 Outlook: Defense Industry and Europe’s Future DW Berlin Briefing on Apple Podcasts: DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics Spotify: DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics Subscribe Berlin Briefing Newsletter: Newsletter Registration For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ Follow DW on social media: ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1