Angela Merkel, Germany’s longest-serving post-war chancellor, is defending her legacy as scrutiny mounts over her handling of key global crises during her 16-year tenure. In a rare interview with the BBC, Angela Merkel addressed criticisms of her policies on Russia, NATO, migration, and Germany’s energy dependency, issues that have taken on renewed significance in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the rise of far-right politics in Germany.
Angela Merkel, who led Germany through the financial crisis, the 2015 migrant crisis, and Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, rejected claims that her decision to block Ukraine’s NATO membership in 2008 emboldened Russian aggression. She argued that the war in Ukraine would have occurred sooner had NATO moved forward with Ukraine’s membership, emphasizing that Kyiv was not militarily prepared at the time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called this a “miscalculation,” asserting it encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to act with impunity.
Angela Merkel, who engaged extensively with Putin during her tenure, expressed deep concern over his nuclear threats. Stressing the need for global unity to prevent nuclear conflict, she pointed to China’s recent stance on nuclear weapons as a positive development. Reflecting on Europe’s energy policies, she defended Germany’s reliance on Russian gas pipelines, citing both economic and diplomatic motivations. However, critics argue that this dependency enriched Russia and financed its war against Ukraine. Angela Merkel admitted her diplomatic efforts to curb Russian aggression ultimately failed, and Germany now faces significant economic strain as it transitions to costly liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies.
Her approach to the 2015 migrant crisis, when Germany accepted over a million asylum seekers, remains a polarizing aspect of her legacy. While lauded by figures like former U.S. President Barack Obama for her humanitarian leadership, Angela Merkel’s policies are widely blamed for revitalizing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, now polling second nationally. Angela Merkel stood firm, saying the only way to combat far-right populism is by addressing illegal migration at its roots and investing in Africa to improve living standards.
As Angela Merkel promotes her memoir Freedom and grapples with criticisms over her tenure, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi reminded critics of the context of her decisions, calling her the “de facto leader of Europe” during a turbulent era. Angela Merkel’s legacy, though contested, continues to shape Europe’s political and economic landscape.
