The New Hawks Shaping German Foreign Policy

The renewed vigor of both German foreign policy and cooperation with France is the result of two changes in the ministerial composition of the new coalition government that took power in Berlin just over a month ago. First, Steinmeier, who had been foreign minister under Merkel's first government from 2005-09 reassumed leadership of that ministry. Second, a political superstar and powerhouse, Ursula von der Leyen, became the first woman to head the German defense ministry. Steinmeier replaced Guido Westerwelle, who is widely considered to have been the weakest German foreign minister in the history of the Federal Republic. Steinmeier, who had been SPD candidate for chancellor in 2008, has no future political aspirations, but he is widely respected diplomatic heavyweight and not one content to serve out his time attending state funerals and cutting ribbons. Von der Leyen, on the other hand, is very ambitious and will want to create a record of achievement that places her squarely in line to replace Merkel as chancellor in 2017. Both ministers are keen on repudiating Westerwelle's mantra of "restraint," which many saw as Germany shirking its global responsibilities given its pivotal position at the heart of Europe.