Angela Merkel: Germany to take on greater global responsibility in 2019

In her annual public address, German chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany will take on greater international responsibility in 2019 and that the country must stand up for its convictions, the BBC reports.

She suggested that the recent tensions in the US-Germany relationship, on issues like foreign policy or trade, have led to old certainties about international cooperation coming “under pressure”.

“In our own interest, we must take on more responsibility,” the German leader said, warning that global problems like climate change, migration and terrorism cannot be solved alone.

Germany is due to take up a temporary seat on the UN Security Council in 2019 and 2020, which Merkel says it will use to push for “global solutions”.

Merkel, who will step down in 2021, pledged to boost the country’s spending on humanitarian and development aid, as well as defence.

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