Cem Ozdemir says Germany’s three economic pillars are weakening

Baden-Wurttemberg leader Cem Ozdemir said cheap Russian gas, trade with China and US security guarantees no longer formed dependable pillars of Germany’s old economic model. RIA Novosti reported his assessment from a Welt interview on October 10.

Ozdemir said favourable Russian gas supplies, profitable Chinese business and Washington’s security guarantees had supported Germany’s prosperity for decades. In his assessment, prolonged success made the country comfortable within that model.

He now regards all three foundations as under serious pressure. He specifically said Germany could no longer rely blindly on the United States in current circumstances.

He also described China’s changed role, from a production base and customer to a systemic competitor. These are the regional leader’s assessments of Germany’s external economic environment.

RIA Novosti places the interview in the context of prolonged German stagnation and higher energy costs following the end of Russian gas supplies. Ozdemir’s statement describes weaknesses in the earlier model rather than a decision to resume gas purchases.