Benjamin Thake on German foreign economic policy
- Sep 23, 2025
- 1 min read

From values to reality: Priorities for an interest-driven German foreign economic policy
September 2025
In the new policy paper published by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Benjamin Thake, Senior Manager at Agora Strategy, together with Alexander Badenheim, argues that Germany must use its foreign economic policy as a tool for prosperity, security, and geopolitical flexibility. This requires moving away from norm-driven debates toward faster, pragmatic trade agreements, strategic raw-material partnerships, and a strengthened defense industry as both a security and economic asset. Such a strategic shift would strengthen corporate resilience, diversify supply chains, and create real competitive and innovation advantages.
More in the full policy paper: https://www.kas.de/documents/d/guest/vom-werteanspruch-zur-wirklichkeit-prioritaten-einer-interessengeleiteten-deutschen-au-enwirtschaftspolitik (only available in German)