The 2020 pandemic had repercussions also for Germany’s foreign policy. Among the international conferences that were postponed were the German-Chinese intergovernmental consultations and the EU-China “full summit”. Chancellor Merkel achieved remarkable successes during the German EU presidency：A stimulus package financed by joint EU debt，a comprehensive investment agreement with China and an understanding with the United Kingdom on its relationship with the EU after Brexit. While Berlin and Paris cooperated closely on the stimulus package，they disagreed on the significance of the USA for European security. Biden’s win of the presidential elections led to renewed hope in Berlin and Brussels for a better relationship with the USA；in this cooperation both must however take care not to lose sight of their own interests. Berlin’s position vis-à-vis Moscow continued to be halfway between the security concerns of Poland and Macron’s outstretched hand. Its China policy took pains to isolate the considerable German economic interests from political disagreements. The debate on the need for a more active German foreign policy continued；the political elites generally favored a more proactive and visionary policy，but more Germans continued to advocate restraint over involvement.