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German Court Halts AfD ‘Extremist’ Label

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Germany’s Cologne administrative court has granted an injunction preventing the domestic intelligence agency (BfV) from classifying the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as right-wing extremist, pending a full court ruling. The decision provides temporary relief to the far-right party ahead of five state elections scheduled for later this year.

The injunction was filed by the AfD to contest the 2025 BfV decision labeling the party as extremist, which would have allowed increased monitoring by the intelligence service. The court noted that it could not currently establish that the party as a whole is dominated by extremist positions, thereby suspending the agency’s classification until further review.

The BfV’s May 2025 classification had triggered political tensions in Germany, with calls from some lawmakers to ban the party and criticism from the AfD itself, which argued the move undermined democratic principles. The U.S. administration also expressed concern, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging German authorities to reconsider the designation.

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German Chancellor Merz Visits China Amid Trade Challenges

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has embarked on his first official visit to China, leading a delegation of senior German business leaders, including heads of Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The trip aims to strengthen economic ties as Germany faces growing trade deficits and competitive pressures from China’s booming electric vehicle industry. Merz’s visit comes amid concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities and global economic rivalry.

China, Germany’s largest trading partner in 2025, has reversed years of trade surpluses, leaving Germany with a deficit of nearly €90 billion. German officials warn that export controls, overcapacity, and rising competition from Chinese firms have created a challenging environment for German manufacturers, prompting calls for Merz to negotiate better terms for industry.

During his visit, Merz is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang, signing economic agreements and visiting major facilities, including a Mercedes-Benz EV plant and Siemens Energy site. The trip reflects Germany’s strategic effort to balance trade relations with China while addressing EU measures protecting local industries from underpriced imports.

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Germany Considers More F-35 Jets as European Fighter Project Stalls

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Germany is considering purchasing additional F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, potentially expanding its fleet beyond the 35 aircraft ordered in 2022. Sources said Berlin is in talks that could lead to buying more than 35 additional jets, which would significantly increase its reliance on U.S. military technology. Each aircraft costs over $80 million, and deliveries from the earlier order are expected to begin later this year.

The move comes as Germany and France face growing uncertainty over their joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a €100-billion program launched in 2017 to develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2040. Disagreements and delays have raised the possibility that the project could be abandoned. German officials, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have also questioned whether investing heavily in a new manned fighter jet remains practical given evolving military technology.

Expanding Germany’s F-35 fleet would mark a strategic shift toward closer defense integration with the United States and strengthen its role within NATO’s nuclear deterrence framework. The F-35 is currently the only Western aircraft certified to carry modern B61 nuclear bombs, making it essential for replacing Germany’s aging Tornado jets. While the future of the FCAS program remains uncertain, Germany and France are expected to continue cooperating on other defense areas such as drones and digital warfare systems.

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Merz Warns Rules-Based World Order Has Collapsed at Munich Security Conference

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Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that the rules-based world order “no longer exists,” urging Europe to prepare for sacrifices in an era dominated by great-power politics. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Merz said Europe’s freedom was no longer guaranteed and acknowledged a “deep divide” between Europe and the United States, citing growing tensions over trade, values, and security.

His remarks came amid strains in transatlantic relations following actions and rhetoric by US President Donald Trump, including threats to annex Greenland and the imposition of tariffs on European goods. Merz rejected protectionism and criticised the ideological influence of the Maga movement, while still appealing for renewed cooperation with Washington. He also revealed confidential discussions with Emmanuel Macron on the possibility of a joint European nuclear deterrent.

The conference, attended by around 50 world leaders, is also focused on the war in Ukraine, relations with China, and questions over US commitment to NATO. Addressing delegates later, Macron urged Europe to accelerate rearmament and become a stronger geopolitical actor, calling Russia’s war against Ukraine an “existential challenge.” Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the moment as a “new era in geopolitics,” underlining the scale of global realignment now under way.

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IOC Faces Backlash Over Nazi-Era Berlin Olympics T-Shirt

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has come under criticism in Germany for selling T-shirts featuring the original poster design of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which were used by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis for propaganda. The shirts, sold through the official Olympic Shop, depict a male figure wearing a laurel wreath, the Olympic rings above, and the Brandenburg Gate below, alongside the text “Germany Berlin 1936 Olympic Games.”

Critics, including Klara Schedlich of the Green Party in Berlin, said the design is inappropriate and insensitive, arguing that it does not adequately reflect the historical context of Nazi propaganda. The IOC defended the sale, stating the shirts are part of its Olympic Heritage Collection, which showcases styles from all editions of the Games and celebrates athletic achievements, such as Jesse Owens’ four gold medals at the Berlin Games that challenged Nazi racial ideology.

The IOC emphasized that only a limited number of the 1936 T-shirts were produced and sold, and the historical context of the Berlin Olympics is explained at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. The collection aims to highlight 130 years of Olympic art and design rather than promote the propaganda of any regime.

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Tesla Files Complaint Over Secret Recording at Berlin Plant

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Tesla has filed a criminal complaint against a member of Germany’s IG Metall union for allegedly recording a non-public works council meeting at its Gruenheide plant near Berlin. According to an internal memo confirmed by the company, the external union representative attended the meeting as a guest but began recording proceedings on a computer, prompting legal action.

Plant manager Andre Thierig said in the memo that works council meetings are confidential and that recording them constitutes a criminal offence under German law. The move marks another escalation in tensions between the U.S. electric vehicle maker and IG Metall, whose relationship has been strained in recent years.

IG Metall rejected Tesla’s claims, calling the accusation a “calculated lie” ahead of works council elections scheduled for March. The union has previously accused plant management of resisting union influence, while in the last election two years ago, most Tesla employees opted for non-union representatives instead of IG Metall-backed candidates.

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German Auto Industry Faces Crisis as Investments and Jobs Move Abroad

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Germany’s automotive sector is facing a serious downturn, with investments and jobs increasingly relocating overseas, according to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). Survey results show that 72% of small- and medium-sized companies in the auto supply chain plan to reduce investments in Germany, either by moving them abroad, postponing, or canceling them altogether.

Job cuts are already underway, with almost two-thirds of surveyed companies reducing domestic employment last year and nearly half continuing to cut jobs this year. The shift is driven by competitive disadvantages, declining orders, and challenges in transitioning to electric vehicles and software-focused manufacturing. Major carmakers, including Volkswagen and Mercedes, along with suppliers like Bosch and ZF, have announced tens of thousands of layoffs.

VDA President Hildegard Mueller warned of political and social implications, highlighting risks to Germany’s prosperity and stability. She criticized EU regulatory measures aimed at supporting the shift to electric vehicles, calling for market-driven incentives rather than mandatory obligations to help maintain Germany’s competitiveness as a global automotive hub.

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Berlin Airport Gradually Reopens After Black Ice Disrupts Flights

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Berlin Brandenburg Airport has begun resuming flight operations after severe black ice forced the grounding of flights in the German capital earlier on Friday. Airport authorities warned that operations remain disrupted, with significant delays and cancellations expected as airlines assess conditions and aircraft availability.

The disruption was caused by snow and freezing rain during a prolonged cold spell across Germany, which affected not only air travel but also road and rail services. Airlines had already delayed or cancelled several flights on Thursday after freezing rain made it impossible to safely de-ice aircraft, leaving many planes grounded.

In a statement posted on social media, the airport said airlines would decide independently whether flights would operate or be cancelled and advised passengers to regularly check their flight status. While operations are slowly stabilising, authorities cautioned that knock-on effects could continue throughout the day.

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Germany Says It Will Remain Closer to U.S. Than China Despite Strains

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Germany will remain closer to the United States than to China, despite recent tensions in transatlantic relations, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday. Speaking in Singapore, Wadephul stressed that Germany is “not in equidistance” between Washington and Beijing, adding that the U.S. continues to be Europe’s most important partner, particularly when it comes to security.

He acknowledged growing friction with Washington, including criticism from the Trump administration over Europe’s defence spending and reliance on U.S. military support. However, Wadephul warned against turning to China as an alternative, saying it would be the “wrong answer” for Europe to assume that closer ties with Beijing could replace the U.S. relationship, even as some Western countries pursue new trade deals with China.

Wadephul said Europe’s firm and united response to U.S. claims over Greenland showed the continent could defend its interests by clearly defining red lines. He also highlighted the European Union’s expanding network of free trade agreements as a key pillar of rules-based global trade and said the bloc is moving quickly to finalise new deals in the Asia-Pacific region, including with Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia.

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German Farm Gives Away Millions of Potatoes After Record Harvest

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A German farm in the eastern state of Saxony has begun giving away millions of potatoes for free after a bumper harvest left the market oversupplied. Dubbed “the great potato rescue,” the initiative aims to prevent around four million kilograms of surplus potatoes from going to waste. Since mid-January, truckloads of potatoes have been transported to Berlin, where residents, food banks, schools and churches have benefited from the giveaway.

Germany, the European Union’s largest potato producer, saw last year’s harvest saturate the market, prompting Osterland Agrar to seek alternatives after a customer contract was cancelled. Partnering with the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper and eco-search engine Ecosia, organisers said the project was about highlighting the value of potatoes as food rather than discarding them. The farm has already distributed about 500,000kg across Germany and Ukraine and can store the remaining stock until mid-year.

The campaign has not been without controversy. The Brandenburg Farmers’ Association criticised the initiative as a “disgusting PR stunt,” warning it could disrupt local markets and devalue food. Despite mixed reactions, the potato giveaway has drawn widespread attention, reflecting Germany’s long-standing culinary love for the humble tuber. Funding for the Berlin operation is now running low, with only one more delivery expected once weather conditions improve.

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