The US administration’s decision to allow allies to train Ukrainian forces to operate F-16 fighter jets, and eventually to provide the aircraft themselves, followed months of internal debate and quiet talks with allies and does not represent an abrupt change in policy. The US administration was concerned that a move to provide F-16s to Ukraine could US-Russian tensions and that the training would be difficult and time-consuming. However, a shift in US policy became apparent after Biden’s visit to Ukraine and Poland and following discussions between senior White House National Security Council, Pentagon and State Department officials. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin heard from allied defense leaders during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group seeking US permission to train the Ukrainians on F-16s and raised the matter during the NSC policy discussions leading to agreement that it was time to start training. State, Pentagon, and NSC officials are now developing a training plan and “when, where, and how to deliver F-16s” to Ukraine as part of the long-term security effort, US officials said.
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.
