Tanks, vodka and feminism: on the road with Germany’s top diplomat
Financial Times
23-05-23 04:18
Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, has favoured a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, balancing principles with realpolitik. Praised by political rivals for her performance, Baerbock has taken a strong stance on human rights, environmental matters, and confronting Russia. Active in the fight against climate change, Baerbock attended a conference in Saudi Arabia where she praised the nation’s efforts to solve crises in Yemen and Sudan and extolled its “incredible potential” for renewable energy. However, she also left a copy of her 80-page handbook on feminist foreign policy, as there are still “many things that divide us” in the realm of human rights. Baerbock’s ambition to be chancellor was stalled after embroiling herself in a plagiarism scandal in 2021, but after serving as Green Party leader, she has rebranded herself and risen to become one of Germany’s most popular politicians. Political supporters argue that her pragmatic approach makes Baerbock a perfect fit for her role in Germany’s decentralised coalition government, even if it leads to friction with other parties.