The Globalist How close is too close for Germany and China? Beijing meeting sets the stage
Nov 17, 2025
Guest
Andrew Ross Sorkin
Guest
Juliette Lindley
Guest
Inzaman (Indy) Rashid
Guest
Charles Hecker
Guest
Aaron Burnett
Aaron Burnett, a Senior Fellow in Berlin, dives into Germany's critical economic reliance on China, exposing risks tied to rare earths and defense. Charles Hecker analyzes political shifts, including Trump’s stance on Epstein files and US military moves near Venezuela. Inzaman Rashid reports on Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 at Cityscape Global, while Juliette Lindley discusses the Pope's outreach to Hollywood, blending faith with modern culture. Andrew Ross Sorkin warns of potential financial bubbles, making connections to AI's influence and past market crashes.
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Episode notes
New Law Gives Germany Teeth — If Used
- Germany passed a law to ban risky foreign technologies across the whole economy, extending earlier telecom measures.
- The central question is whether political will exists to actually use those powers against Chinese components.
Local Interests Undermine De-risking
- Subnational German states and big firms actively court Chinese investment, which undermines federal de-risking efforts.
- Major firms expect government bailouts, weakening incentives to reduce China exposure.
Speculation Feeds Innovation And Bubbles
- Financial bubbles recur because markets chase lottery-ticket returns and optimism often outperforms skepticism.
- Speculation fuels innovation but also sets the stage for boom-and-bust cycles.
