Janusz Reiter, an expert on international relations and former Polish ambassador to the US and Germany, voices his opinion in an article published in Rzeczpospolita regarding the reasons behind German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier awarding Angela Merkel with a prestigious decoration.
According to Reiter, Merkel believed that maintaining Germany’s economic strength was crucial for it to become a reliable partner in both Europe and the Atlantic region. However, she held the view that achieving this required economic cooperation with China and Russia. Reiter argues that this belief was a mistake and it will also impact Poland’s evaluation of Merkel’s policies.