Did Angela Merkel misjudge Germany's dependence on Russian gas?

In her memoir ''Freedom'', Angela Merkel reflects on her 16-year tenure as German chancellor, offering insights into her political approach and the global crises that defined her leadership. Merkel, once hailed as the "queen of Europe" and the "most powerful woman in the world," presents herself not as a sovereign leader but as a mediator, adept at bridging ideological divides. Born and raised in East Germany, she spent much of her career navigating the tensions between her socialist upbringing and her political home in Germany’s pro-NATO, pro-market conservative party.

The book offers an honest, nuanced look at her political career, which saw her interact with figures as diverse as George W. Bush and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Merkel’s calm demeanor and respectful tone permeate the memoir, even when addressing moments of political tension. She critiques Bush’s war in Iraq as a “mistake” based on faulty beliefs, and recalls Tsipras’s stunning phone call recommending a no vote on a bailout deal he had negotiated with her. Yet, despite these moments of disagreement, Merkel never resorts to bitterness, adhering to a “never explain, never complain” philosophy, much like the British royal family. As a result, some critics might note her book is surprisingly light on explicit critiques, with notable figures like Yanis Varoufakis and Boris Johnson barely mentioned.

Merkel released her memoirs “Freedom” today

In the book she says she has no regrets about:

- Shutting down all nuclear power
- Imposing open borders on the EU
- Building Nord Stream 2 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea
- Stopping Georgia & Ukriane joining NATO in 2008
- Minsk 1 & 2 pic.twitter.com/QpZHepcY6l

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 26, 2024

While Merkel’s memoir avoids indulging in score-settling, it does explore her interactions with key political players. One of the more surprising insights comes from her reflections on Donald Trump. Their first meeting left her flustered when Trump refused to shake her hand, and she quickly realized that her assumption that he would be “someone completely normal” was misplaced. Her description of Trump’s transactional approach to international relations is a stark contrast to her own worldview, where she saw cooperation as key to success.

The book also sheds light on Merkel’s upbringing in East Germany, and it’s clear that these early years had a profound influence on her worldview. Although she despised the regime’s narrow-mindedness and lack of humor, she recalls her early political career in Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall with a sense of reluctance to open up about her past. Over time, she grew uncomfortable with how much attention was drawn to her being Germany’s first female chancellor, fearing that it would reduce her to a label.

While Merkel’s book is largely retrospective, it’s impossible to ignore the geopolitical events that shaped her leadership. Her strategic decisions, particularly regarding Russia and the EU, are examined in detail. She was a key negotiator with Vladimir Putin, speaking fluent Russian and holding a unique position within Europe. However, in the wake of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its subsequent invasion of Ukraine, her handling of Germany's reliance on Russian gas and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project is questioned. Many wonder why Merkel allowed this dependency to grow, despite being aware of Putin’s imperial ambitions. She justifies her decisions in a formulaic manner but does not delve deeply into what many see as her critical misjudgments.

One notable moment of self-reflection comes when Merkel considers her role in Ukraine’s exclusion from NATO in 2008. She defends her decision, claiming that Putin would have acted aggressively regardless of NATO membership, but her stance remains unsatisfying to those who question whether the West, led by Merkel, misjudged Russia’s intentions. The book's second half, which tackles these geopolitical challenges, reveals the complexities of Merkel’s leadership during crises like the Eurozone crisis, the migrant crisis of 2015, and Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Throughout the memoir, Merkel’s character shines through: her lack of showmanship, understated humor, and commitment to building alliances. But by the end, readers are left questioning whether her good intentions and diplomatic skills always translated into effective decision-making. Despite promising to identify her mistakes, Merkel only acknowledges minor rhetorical blunders, leaving major policy decisions—such as her support for Nord Stream 2—largely unexplained.

In the end, Freedom is a memoir that portrays Merkel as a leader who prioritized compromise and diplomacy, but it raises the question of whether these qualities always served her country and Europe well.