Germany's Merz heads to Asia as security issues loom large — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Merz began a five-day Asia tour on Monday with 30 senior businesspeople from industry, tech, defense and energy, starting in Singapore before scheduled visits to Japan and South Korea.
- Steinmeier is visiting China during the same period; although the two trips are not officially related, the report says both appear aimed at boosting Berlin's economic and security relationships as geopolitical instability threatens global supply chains.
- Japan has sought new security allies and closer trade partnerships for more than a decade, while Takaichi is expected to underline a rules-based, free and open Indo-Pacific; Merz talks are also expected to cover supply-chain resilience and China-controlled rare earths.
- Germany has come more into line with Takaichi's perception of the security threat posed by China, even as Berlin remains focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Japan monitors China, North Korea and Russia, according to Ben Ascione.
- Japan would welcome German military assets in the region after the frigate Bayern became the first German Navy warship to dock in Tokyo in 20 years in May 2021 and German Eurofighter Typhoons drilled with Japanese fighters over northern Japan in July 2024.
- South Korea is trying to establish communication with North Korea despite Kim Jong Un sending troops to Ukraine, while Seoul says its petroleum exports to Russia have not breached sanctions; Saeme Kim said many European countries are irritated by the outreach.
- Merz is due to meet President Lee Jae-myung, open the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul and visit the DMZ, although that border visit could be canceled after a North Korean mine injured three South Korean soldiers last month.
Why it matters: Germany’s 30-member business delegation gives the tour a concrete economic purpose alongside the security agenda: Japan wants resilient supply chains and access to strategically important inputs such as rare earths, while Germany already has joint military drills with Japanese forces. That gives German and Japanese firms a forum for coordination on issues the source says can disrupt global trade.
Ask SkimNews
