For Germany, Pragmatism Prevails Beyond the Beltway

German Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ visit to the United States this week included a stop in the Lone Star State, where he aimed to show Texans that his country is deeply invested in the transatlantic relationship. His trip to Fort Worth—which came after a meeting with Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington focused on better integration of the US and German defense-industrial bases—was to inspect the much-anticipated F35 fighter planes due to be delivered to Germany. The visit was in keeping with Berlin’s strategy to deepen its connections with the 99.8% of the US population living outside the political churn of Washington. 

Germany's determination to keep the United States in Europe's security architecture clearly does not fit the script of strategic autonomy. At a time when the current US administration has signaled a retrenchment from Europe, Germany has chosen the path of pragmatic and diversified engagement.

While some European capitals are seeking to limit cooperation with the United States, Germany has leaned in by establishing avenues for cooperation at the state level. It is pursuing deeper economic partnerships with several US states and is courting South Carolina for a potential collaboration under the US National Guard’s well-regarded State Partnership Program. 

For his part, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has gone to great lengths to ensure that interactions with a highly unpredictable White House remain as productive as possible, focusing on historic cooperation and current realities. Some may argue that Germany’s approach seeks to avoid “rocking the boat”, or that it preserves the status quo, but in reality, this strategy of patient pragmatism will likely pay dividends in the long run. Germany’s multi-pronged efforts to maintain and strengthen connections with the United States both inside and outside Washington signal a prioritization of durable security and economic linkages between the two countries—linkages that transcend the ebb and flow of transatlantic political tides. 

This approach may seem to be a self-evident path forward. But for Germany, amid growing anti-American sentiment at home and across Europe, it carries inherent political risk, as it balances competing demands to reduce dependency on the United States with the need for strong economic and security ties with the “leader of the free world”. 

Whether Germany’s diplomatic and strategic bet will pay off in the long run has yet to be determined, but for the majority of Americans—who favor a positive and productive relationship with Europe—it is an important signal that transatlantic cooperation is still alive, and that Europe values and desires it.