President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Berlin

Current background information on the visit of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Berlin

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to pay an official visit to Berlin from March 11 to 13. While bilateral relations were at a low point under the previous government of Rodrigo Duterte, they have improved noticeably since Marcos took office. One reason for this is the tense geopolitical climate and the interest of both countries in defending the rules-based international order. The most important topics of the visit will therefore be the maintenance of regional security in the Indo-Pacific and the intensification of economic and trade relations.

Attacks on Christians in Nigeria

How the raids at Christmas 2023 fit into an existing major conflict over resources in Nigeria

Nigeria, a country torn by multiple crisis and conflicts, experienced a series of attacks on Christmas 2023, which gained attention far beyond its own borders. But the search for reasons to explain this outbreak of violence is complex. With a spreading conflict on resources, fueled by climate change and population growth, it becomes evident, that more reasons are underlying then the smouldering religious conflict in the region.

Focus on Panama

A report on the Climate Week for Latin America and the fear of selling out the country

The Climate Week for Latin America and the Caribbean took place in Panama from 23 to 27 October 2023. Shortly beforehand, the parliament approved a controversial treaty on the exploitation of raw materials, which led to major protests and restrictions on Climate Week. The conference discussed the financing of the transition to renewable energies and measures to adapt to climate change. The countries of Latin America are planning to act as joint negotiating partners for the first time at the World Climate Conference in Dubai. The parliamentary approval of the mining agreement a few days before the conference led to protests by the population and shows the conflict between climate protection and the demand for raw materials, which are necessary for a green transition.

Sincerity or showmanship

What's behind Lula's efforts to build international alliances to protect rainforests?

With the Amazon Summit, an international summit for the protection of the rainforest took place in August 2023 in Belém, Brazil, with high-ranking participants from the Amazon riparian states. It was agreed to improve cooperation on topics such as water management, infrastructure, health, human rights and biodiversity protection, however, it was not possible to agree on concrete goals. Moreover, a new economic program presented by President Lula shortly after the summit raises the question as to where Brazil's environmental policy is actually heading.

Global Finance Summit

Is there an opportunity for climate finance reform?

On June 22-23, 2023, the summit for a new global finance pact will be held in Paris to kick off a fundamental reform of climate finance.

Growing tensions in the West African "anchor of stability" Senegal

The campaign for the 2024 presidential election has begun

Senegal still has a reputation as a stable and peaceful democracy. The country is perceived as an anchor of stability in a troubled region, mainly associated with the Sahel crisis. President Macky Sall has been in power since 2012, currently in his second term. According to the constitution, a third is not foreseen. However, there are increasing indications that one cannot be ruled out - Macky Sall himself has not yet clearly stated his intentions in this regard. This is being received negatively by the population and comparisons are being drawn with the situation in 2012: Macky Sall's predecessor, Abdoulaye Wade, harboured similar aspirations then and lost the election campaign. Political opponents like Ousmane Sonko are building their own election campaign in large part on the rejection of such a third term. In this respect, the next elections could be a turning point in the country's longstanding democratic tradition.

Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz reist nach Hanoi

Am 13. November reist Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz nach Vietnam. Ob es zu konkreten Ergebnissen im Zuge der Reise kommen wird, bleibt abzuwarten.

Im Mittelpunkt der Reise befindet sich die seit 2011 bestehenden Strategischen Partnerschaft zwischen Deutschland und Vietnam. Der Arbeitsbesuch von Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz bietet die Chance für eine Wiederbelebung und Vertiefung der Partnerschaft. Neben der Diversifizierung der Wirtschaftsbeziehungen und der Zusammenarbeit zu Klimaschutz und Energie wird es auch um die großen Fragen der Politik gehen.

Die Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) – reformbedürftig, aber unverzichtbar

Neue Dynamik der WTO in schwieriger globaler Großwetterlage

Die WTO ist ein zentrales Instrument zur Förderung des regelbasierten Handels. Trotz widriger Umstände gelangen bei der Ministerkonferenz im Juni 2022 einige unerwartete Erfolge. Um auf Dauer zukunftsfähig zu sein und eine Rolle bei der Bewältigung neuer Herausforderungen zu spielen, bedarf sie jedoch einer umfassenden Reform. Der EU kommt eine entscheidende Rolle zu, dieses Gelegenheitsfenster zu nutzen.

UN-Mission in Mali verlängert

Aber die Herausforderungen nehmen zu

Der UN-Sicherheitsrat hat beschlossen, den Blauhelm-Einsatz in Mali um ein weiteres Jahr zu verlängern. Dies gibt Klarheit für die Bundeswehr, die seit 2013 im Rahmen der UN-Mission „MINUSMA“ versucht, Nordmali zu stabilisieren. Mali kündigte zeitgleich an, die Bewegungsfreiheit der Mission zu beschränken. Probleme mit Bamako sind damit vorprogrammiert.

Nigeria hat Präsidentschaftskandidaten gewählt

Nach Abschluss der Vorwahlen der beiden großen Parteien Nigerias in dieser Woche stehen deren Kandidaten für die nächste Präsidentschaft fest. Nachdem der amtierende Präsident Muhammadu Buhari des All Progressives Congress (APC) nach zwei Amtszeiten nicht mehr kandidieren durfte, hat sich für die Regierungspartei Bola Tinubu, ehemaliger Gouverneur von Lagos, gegen starke Konkurrenz durchgesetzt. Die Vorwahlen der größten Oppositionspartei Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hat der ehemalige Vizepräsident Nigerias Abubakar Atiku für sich entschieden. Bei den für Ende Februar 2023 angesetzten Präsidentschaftswahlen stehen sich mit diesem Ergebnis zwei sehr erfahrene und gut vernetzte Politiker gegenüber.