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Germany at a historic crossroads: The far right seeks the "American ticket" to power...
The rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is becoming a direct challenge to Europe's political unity and the transatlantic alliance. Already officially declared an extremist force by German security authorities, the AfD has not stopped its electoral growth, surpassing 26 percent in some polls and becoming the main opposition in the Bundestag.
According to an analysis by the American-German Institute, the AfD leadership is seeking direct links to political circles close to former US President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. MPs from the party have visited Washington and met with Trump administration officials and hardline Republicans, while party co-chair Alice Weidel is expected to travel to the United States for a meeting with Vice President JD Vance.
This open rapprochement with populist and pro-Trump circles in the US comes at a time when Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a moderate ally of US Republicans and supporter of NATO, is trying to revive Germany's traditional centre-right. But the AfD's flirtation with Trump is undermining his efforts to stem the rise of the far right.
Beyond domestic issues, the influence of this radical force has also begun to change the course of German foreign policy. In the east of the country, the AfD has massive support from voters who openly show sympathy for Russia and are critical of military aid to Ukraine. Many of them embrace the Kremlin's narratives and openly support the lifting of sanctions against Moscow.
This trend coincides with another clear political movement: rapprochement with China. The AfD has openly declared its support for Beijing's "Belt and Road" project and praised the "efficiency" of the Chinese authoritarian system. Alice Weidel, who has lived and worked in China, is seen by Chinese circles as a close and legible figure for their geopolitical interests.
An internal clash is taking place within the party between the moderate faction, which aims to bring the AfD to power through alliances with the traditional CDU/CSU, and the old eastern wing, which maintains a pro-Russian line and anti-NATO rhetoric. Some deputies from this line have made controversial visits to Moscow and participated in activities organized by the Kremlin.
For Brussels, Berlin and Western allies, the rapprochement of this force with pro-Trump circles and the global far right represents a real threat to the Euro-Atlantic order. A Germany led by a party that sympathizes with Moscow, supports Beijing and cooperates with MAGA in the US would overturn all the strategic balances built after the Cold War.
An alarming development is emerging on the political horizon of Europe. A force once considered marginal is now presenting itself as a governing alternative. And if left unchecked, this trend could bring about a profound political upheaval for the old continent and produce consequences that go far beyond the borders of Germany. / Adapted from “Corriere Della Sera”
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