Germany’s role in foreign affairs has changed immensely since reunification. Though the country had long been an economic heavyweight, its troubled past kept it from being a European military power. But starting in the late 1990s under former chancellor Gerhard Schröder, things began to change. Germany has since sent troops abroad to participate in several international peacekeeping missions, including in Kosovo and Afghanistan. However, all military deployments must be approved by parliament and usually require a UN mandate. As the largest country in Europe and with the world’s third-largest economy, Germany is a leading member of the EU and NATO. After Schröder’s strident opposition to the Bush administration’s decision to invade Iraq in 2003, Germany’s relations with long-time ally the United States cooled dramatically. But Berlin’s ties to Washington have improved under chancellor Angela Merkel, who has made the transatlantic alliance one of her top priorities. Aware of the legacy from the second world war, Berlin often goes to great lengths to maintain good relations with its European neighbours. However, some in Europe still frequently view everything Germany does with suspicion, and a few conservative Polish politicians hardly conceal their contempt for their German counterparts.

Most countries have their embassies in Berlin. A great number of them are located near the Brandenburg Gate and south of the Tiergarten. Berlin is the sister city of many of the world’s leading metropolises including London, Paris, Tokyo and Beijing.