Greater Responsibility Requires Greater Leadership From Germany In Global Health

President Joe Biden and the January 2025 WHO Withdrawal

The renewed U.S. withdrawal from the WHO and retreat from wider global health international cooperation has thrown key institutions, norms, and financing into turmoil. This has generated significant consequences for global health security, leadership, and equity, forming the backdrop for health meetings at the UN General Assembly (UNGA). When in 2020 President Trump first tried to withdraw the United States from the WHO, leading European donors and champions of multilateralism stepped in to fill the gap. The next year, on assuming office, President Joe Biden rapidly reversed the withdrawal. In January 2025, during the immediate aftermath of Trump’s second bid to pull U.S. commitments to the WHO, international aid, and health cooperation more broadly, the need for stable leadership became more pronounced.

Sascha van Beek and Germany’s Global Health Ambitions

Global health and the fight against malaria require more leadership from Germany, reflecting the country’s growing responsibilities, according to Sascha van Beek. Van Beek, a leading global health actor in Germany’s Bundestag (Parliament) and a nurse by training, explains that Germany—a major global health donor and host to world-class scientific research—needs a seat at the table. As the Global Fund Executive Director nomination process progresses behind closed doors, reports by Health Policy Watch and The Lancet have revealed a few of the names said to be shortlisted, including high-profile candidates from the United States and Botswana. Meanwhile, a German contender was reportedly sidelined.

Germany’s contribution to global health has been transformative. As its new coalition government takes shape, now is not the time for it to weaken this commitment. Germany has long stood as a global leader, not just in public health but also in shaping international cooperation on health through platforms like the G7 and G20. With a deep-rooted commitment to strengthening global health security, combating antimicrobial resistance, and advancing universal health coverage, Germany has consistently prioritized health interventions that have transformed health systems and saved countless lives.

Johann Wadephul and the NATO Ministerial Meeting in Helsingborg

While Germany navigates its role in health, it is also pushing for a stronger leadership role in NATO. Ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in the Swedish port city of Helsingborg, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stressed Berlin’s readiness to assume greater leadership responsibility in the military alliance. “Our goal is a new burden-sharing arrangement that reflects Germany’s and Europe’s economic and military potential,” he said in Berlin before departing for Sweden, adding that “Germany is accepting its leadership responsibility.” He further noted, We want a stronger NATO with a greater role for Europe. This shift comes as divisions persist over the level of aid from member states to Ukraine, and as global security issues, such as the Iran war, have increased tension within the military alliance.

The broader international landscape is also seeing countries of the Global South taking the helm of various initiatives. In 2022, Palau launched the Alliance of Countries Calling for a Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium, which aims to protect “some of the most biodiverse and scientifically important ecosystems on Earth.” Brazil has proposed the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, a global financing mechanism meant to incentivize tropical forest conservation. Additionally, Tajikistan, together with the Netherlands, has initiated the Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018–2028 and co-hosted the UN 2023 Water Conference, both geared at improving the sustainable management of the world’s water resources by the international community.

Regarding academic leadership, a study aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5 examined the gender gap in higher education. While females constitute more than half of higher education students globally, they remain underrepresented in academic leadership positions. The study utilized descriptive analyses, surveys, and interviews to identify factors influencing career progression. Findings revealed that gender parity in enrollment has been achieved, with Latin America & the Caribbean leading, followed by Europe and Central Asia.

Readers should note that the international health landscape remains volatile. Consult qualified professionals and refer to official guidance from the WHO or relevant governmental health agencies for current information on global health policy, pandemic preparedness, or international development aid strategies. The evidence regarding institutional shifts and leadership transitions continues to evolve as geopolitical conditions change.

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