International Reports

The EU is rethinking its place in a world shaped by Russia’s war against Ukraine, growing competition with China and uncertainty in its relationship with the United States. What does that mean for the countries Europe wants to work with?

Find the full report by Dr. Olaf Wientzek and Sven Nicolay on The EU’s Partnership Policy here:

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here: https://www.kas.de/en/web/auslandsinformationen/ausgaben/issues/-/content/global-partnerships-between-values-interests-and-geopolitical-competition

Video excerpt from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s 2026 State of the European Union address. Watch the full speech: https://www.youtube.com/live/RfYjukF1Pe8

Europe needs lithium for its energy transition and electric mobility. But its dependence on China for critical raw materials and processing has become a growing strategic vulnerability.

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here:

Find the full report by Dr. Christina Stolte on the Lithium partnership with Bolivia, here:

Subscribe to the print version of “International Reports” free of charge:

Three decades after the end of apartheid, South Africa’s young democracy faces profound challenges. Persistent inequality, political polarization, and the legacy of racial segregation continue to shape the country’s future. Following the 2024 elections, the African National Congress (ANC) lost significant support and entered a Government of National Unity with several other parties. At the same time, populist movements and identity-based politics are reshaping the political landscape, making consensus and stable governance increasingly difficult. In this episode, we explore with Gregor Jaecke, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s South Africa Office, and Doctor Holger Dix, Head of the Konrad- Adenauer Foundation’s Regional Programme Political Dialogue Sub-Saharan Africa, the fragmentation of South Africa’s party system, the challenges facing its democracy, and the prospects for reform, social justice, and political stability. We also examine similar political trends across other African countries, where economic pressures, democratic backsliding, and growing public discontent are reshaping political landscapes and challenging established parties.

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here:

Find the full report by Gregor Jaecke and Dr. Christoph Wiedenroth on South Africa’s Fragile Political Centre, here:

Find the full report by Dr. Holger Dix and Henri Bohnet on the Democracy Union of Africa, here:

Subscribe to the print version of “International Reports” free of charge:

Latin America is once again in political transition—this time tilting to the right. In this episode, Henning Suhr, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Regional Programme Party Dialogue and Democracy in Latin America, and Olaf Jacob, Head of KAS in Chile, discuss the decline of the “pink tide” and the rise of leaders like Javier Milei and Nayib Bukele. Driven by a younger, less ideological electorate, the shift reflects demands for stability, growth, and accountability. But is this a durable realignment—or another turn in the region’s political cycle?

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here:

Find the full report by Henning Suhr on Latin America’s Party Landscape Shifts to the Right, here:

Subscribe to the print version of “International Reports” free of charge:

This episode examines how the second administration of Donald Trump marks a return to a clearly pro-Israel but increasingly unilateral Middle East policy. Aid to Israel expanded while support for the Palestinian Authority froze. Joint strikes against Iran and disputes over Gaza reveal widening gaps, fueling debate in Israel over strategic risks and growing dependence on partisan US backing.

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here:

Find the full report by Dr. Michael Rimmel, here:

Subscribe to the print version of “International Reports” free of charge:

In this episode, we explore how Asia — and especially Vietnam — are navigating a new and unsettled era in their ties with Washington. We trace Vietnam’s rise since 1975, its ambitious doi moi reforms, and the recent peak in relations under Biden’s 2023 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Now, with tariffs initially set at 46 per cent and later reduced to 20 per cent, and with key USAID programmes suspended, Hanoi leans on its trademark “bamboo diplomacy” to maintain stability. While Lewe Paul, Head of the Vietnam Country Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, offers insights into Vietnam’s position, Christian Echle, Head of the Department Asia and Pacific of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, explains how countries across Asia are recalibrating their relations with the United States in this new era of strategic uncertainty.

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here:

Find the full report by Lewe Paul on Vietnam’s Relations with the United States under Trump 2.0, here:

Subscribe to the print version of “International Reports” free of charge:

German development cooperation should be more closely aligned with economic priorities and take a more strategic approach to strengthen public support at home and to facilitate access for German companies to developing and emerging economies. Partner countries often view an open and transparent acknowledgement of Germany’s own interests as respectful and legitimate, while paternalistic approaches shaped by socio-political debate in Germany weaken support both domestically and in partner countries. We trace the contours of a more pragmatic and transparent development policy — in conversation with Olaf Wientzek, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundations Multinational Development Policy Dialogue in Brussels, and Dr Susanne Conrad, Policy Adviser for Rule of Law and Security in Africa and for Anglophone West Africa at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here:

Find the full report by Fabian Wagener, Ingo F.J. Badoreck, Dr. Susanne Conrad, Magdalena Jetschgo-Morcillo, Dr. Olaf Wientzek, Nils Wörmer on Recommendations for a Realignment of German Development Cooperation, here:

Subscribe to the print version of “International Reports” free of charge:

Africa’s economy is changing. Trade with Europe and the US is no longer the main focus — today, countries like China play a leading role. The old idea that Africa is still dependent on the West doesn’t tell the full story.

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here:

Find the full report by Anja Berretta and Gunter Rieck Moncayo on the trade with Africa, here:

Subscribe to the print version of “International Reports” free of charge:

Although Russia has pursued an imperial policy in its Eurasian neighbourhood since the early 19th century, the country is not perceived as a colonial power in much of postcolonial discourse - yet its impact is still deeply felt.

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here:

Find the full report by Stephan Malerius and Florian Binder on Russia as a Colonial Power in the Caucasus, here:

Subscribe to the print version of “International Reports” free of charge:

As global tensions rise, the world’s oceans are becoming the new frontline of foreign policy. From undersea cables to critical pipelines, maritime infrastructure is increasingly under threat. In this episode, we speak with Ferdinand Gehringer, policy advisor on homeland and cybersecurity issues at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, about Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” and the growing challenges in securing the seas. What risks are we facing, and how prepared is Germany to respond?

The current issue of International Reports, the foreign policy magazine of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, is available online here:

Find the full report by Ferdinand Gehringer and Matthias Hespe on how to make Europe's maritime critical infrastructure more resilient, here:

Subscribe to the print version of “International Reports” free of charge: