The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel

In Chapter 8, Marton describes Merkel’s practical approach to dealing with undemocratic regimes, particularly Russia and China. Merkel avoids public confrontations with authoritarian leaders, opting for perseverance in relations and an effort to find common ground for negotiation. This approach was tested early on by Vladimir Putin, who in a 2007 Munich speech harshly criticized the West and its values—a speech that troubled Merkel. This event marked the beginning of a challenging relationship between Merkel and Putin.

Putin, who served as a KGB officer in East Germany, was disillusioned by the collapse of the USSR and Russia’s loss of global power. Ever since, he has tried to restore the USSR’s glory. By contrast, Merkel’s personal experience in East Germany with Soviet rule left her with an unfavorable opinion of the USSR, as she wished those days would never return for Germany. Nevertheless, this experience gave Merkel insight into Putin’s mindset, which combines nationalism with unconventional tactics like disinformation and cyber warfare. Despite their political differences, Merkel and Putin developed a relationship based on mutual respect rooted in their understanding of each other’s backgrounds and languages. Merkel speaks Russian, while Putin is fluent in German.