All episodes

Ben and Aaron look at Germany’s relationship with Ben’s native UK – and how Russia’s war against Ukraine has necessitated a move-on from the tension around Brexit to new ways of cooperating – particularly on security issues. Together with retired Air Marshal Edward Stringer Ben and Aaron look at the respective capabilities and posture...

Ben and Aaron look at Germany’s relationship with Ben’s native UK – and how Russia’s war against Ukraine has necessitated a move-on from the tension around Brexit to new ways of cooperating – particularly on security issues. They look at how the two countries should prepare for a possible Trump presidency in the US...

BerlinsideOut looks at current German strategy for European Security and why it needs to both finish its Zeitenwende and think bigger. Ben provides an update from Vilnius and, together with Aaron, they address the recent decision on Ukraine’s EU Accession talks and the keynote speech of HE Olha Stefanishyna.

Ben and Aaron take a look at how the French “Bratislava Agenda” of rapprochement with CEE and thus rebalancing European leadership complements – or clashes with – Germany's Zeitenwende, its supposed sea change in foreign and security policy.

Ben and Aaron take a look at the current dysfunction in what German foreign policy elites often refer to as the country’s most important bilateral relationship – and the “motor” through which Europe either moves or stalls.

In the second episode looking at Germany’s tough, but crucial relationship with Poland, Ben and Aaron are joined by former German Ambassador to Poland and author of Feinde, Fremde, Freunde (“Foes, Strangers, Friends”) – a book about Germany’s current relationship with Poland following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – to discuss the opportunities for reconciliation between Warsaw and Berlin following a pivotal Polish election, including by spotting ways to address German blind spots when it comes to Poland.

Ben and Aaron get into a particularly important, but historically difficult and tense relationship – the one that Germany has with its largest eastern neighbour in Poland. Recent elections have seen a new Polish coalition gain the numbers to oust the populist Law & Justice Party from power in Warsaw, leaving Berlin with an opportunity to recalibrate its relationship with Poland – if it decides to seize the moment.

In a very special BerlinsideOut, Ben and Aaron are joined by HE Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration directly after her keynote speech at the DGAP on 24/11/2023 - in which she outlined not only why Ukraine must win, but also why EU and NATO accession would benefit all Europeans, including Germans.

From the EU’s northern enlargement to the euro crisis, Germany’s Nordic partners in the EU had often looked to Berlin as a champion of their interests. Now though, Berlin’s slow and indecisive handling of both support for Ukraine and NATO enlargement has raised concern in Helsinki and Stockholm...

Ben and Aaron are joined by Professor Ulrike von Hirschhausen for an extended discussion of the ties that bind the Baltic States and Germany and the opportunities that new ways of seeing each other offer for greater mutual understanding.