German Foreign Policy Reversal: German Economy Minister Celebrated in Washington
The trip to Washington was probably worth it simply for the recognition. “Habeck couldn’t have picked a better week for his visit,” said Bastian Hermisson, director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Washington, a think tank aligned with Habeck’s Green Party.
After his visit with Blinken, a visibly satisfied Habeck said he had been shown gratitude. “From the U.S. side, the decisions made over the weekend are seen as a demonstration of Germany’s willingness to play a leadership role,” Hermisson said. Germany, he added, is taking on increased responsibility for NATO with more money for the military and arms deliveries.
When asked by a journalist whether Blinken had expressed any doubts about Germany’s determination to back up its words with actions, Habeck shook his head. He said he had been met with a surprising degree of openness and trust that the pledges would be fulfilled.
Linking Geostrategic Issues to Energy and Climate
During his meeting, Habeck deftly linked geostrategic issues with those of energy and climate protection. “Investing in military capabilities and investing in energy independence from Russia are two sides of the same coin,” Habeck said. He explained to the American energy secretary how Germany intends to become independent of raw material suppliers from Russia.
He said the project is to be based on “three pillars.” First of all, Germany intends to diversify its natural gas supplies by introducing liquefied natural gas to the mix through the construction of new LNG ports – and he was open about the fact that Germany will be sourcing liquified natural gas from Qatar and not from the U.S., whose gas supplies have been controversial in Germany because of the widespread reliance on fracking. Second, he said that renewable energies are to be radically expanded and that he wants to put an end to the “somnambulance” in those efforts. Third, he intends to promote the infrastructure necessary for the production of environmentally friendly hydrogen.
Delegation members also say that Habeck was clear that both the buildup of the German armed forces and the end of Germany’s dependence on Russian energy “would not fail because of money,” adding that the plans go far beyond the 2024 budget.
They are comments that certainly help his popularity in Washington. But he also knows that he has support back in Berlin, particularly from Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the business-friendly Free Democratic Party (FDP).
During the session of parliament on Sunday, Lindner described renewable energies as “freedom energies” and promised that they would be expanded. It is a freedom, Habeck emphasized, that must be paid for.