For 16 years, Angela Merkel was the leader of Germany. During that time, she saw the country through the financial crisis, the migrant crisis in 2015, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014. She defends her record as Chancellor in a rare talk with the BBC, focusing on important choices and how they will affect the country in the long run.
When she was in charge of Europe’s biggest economy, she was, in the words of former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi, “the boss of the European Union.” Germany built two gas pipes that connect directly to Moscow while she was in charge. This made the country more dependent on Russian energy. Merkel asserts that she made these deals to maintain peace with Russia and support businesses. But people are arguing about her choices, especially when it comes to Ukraine.
She tells the BBC that the reason they stopped Ukraine from joining NATO in 2008 was to avoid making Russia angry. “A war would have broken out even sooner.” She says, “It was very clear to me that President Putin would not have stood by and let Ukraine join NATO.” Merkel believes Ukraine would have been less prepared for war in 2022 if it had joined NATO in 2008. President Zelensky of Ukraine, on the other hand, has said that this choice was wrong and gave Russia more confidence.
Now Merkel has to explain the gas deals with Russia, which some say helped Putin pay for his war machine. German gas payments boosted Russia’s war chest, according to Radoslaw Fogiel, a Polish MP. This made the attack on Ukraine possible. Merkel responds that her goal was to stop Russia from being aggressive through diplomacy, even though she admits that these attempts failed in the end.
Following her departure from office, Germany is currently grappling with the consequences of its dependence on Russian energy. It has had to look for more expensive options. The invasion of Ukraine was the start of a new era in Europe’s relationship with Russia, which Merkel calls “regrettable.”
People are closely examining Merkel’s political choices, particularly during the 2015 migrant crisis. Many people thought it was brave and controversial of her to let over a million refugees into Germany. Leaders like Barack Obama praised her for being a moral leader, but the move gave the far-right AfD party new life and it now has a lot of support in Germany.
Merkel doesn’t back down when people criticize her. She says she’s not to blame for the rise of anti-immigration feelings across Europe, but she does think that stopping illegal immigration is important for fighting the far right. She also advocates for increased financial support for African countries to alleviate the pressure on migration.
Even though she got flak for things like the eurozone crisis and Germany’s energy dependence on Russia. Merkel says she put security and balance first while she was in office. Even though she doesn’t say sorry for her policies. She does admit that some choices haven’t held up well over time. Especially in light of the problems facing the world today.
World leaders are seeking Merkel’s ideas as Europe prepares to face threats from Russia, China, and the US. However, she is certain that she does not miss the power or the politics of her position. “No, not at all,” she says right away when asked about it.
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