Perspektiva Německo-Ruského vztahu a Český zájem
Perspective of German-Russian Relations and Czech Interest

Author(s): Vladimír Handl
Subject(s): International relations/trade, Security and defense
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: German-Russian Relations;
Summary/Abstract: German policy towards Russia has undergone a fundamental change since Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency (2012) and the aggression against Ukraine (2014). It is still true that Germany will not give up on Russia. Berlin is, for example, activating contacts at the working level. However, the normative gap persists and the incident in the Kerch Strait has shown the limits of German/European influence on the behavior of the Russian leadership. Russia is falling out of the German foreign policy agenda as a revisionist power. Berlin is more preoccupied with the destructive policy of the Donald Trump administration, the growing ambitions of China, and the need to strengthen the European Union. The ongoing Nord Stream 2 project poses a political dilemma. In this situation, Czech policy should actively support the efforts of Germany (and other states) to preserve the liberal international order and invest political capital and material resources in this project. It should help to Europeanize German-Russian relations both at the political level and through practical projects. In relation to the Nord Stream 2 project, it should strive for its geopolitical neutralization by supporting the construction of LNG terminals in Poland and the building of a European gas market.

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