Turnabout or continuity? The German <i>Zeitenwende</i> and the reaction of the V4 countries to it
Journal: Journal of European Integration
Year: 2023

During Angela Merkel’s term as Chancellor, Germany did not play a leading role in the realm of security and defense; moreover, estrangement with the German government’s allies based on its attitude towards Putin’s Russia slowly grew. Since Russia’s war against Ukraine began, the situation has changed dramatically. This article will show the different reactions of the Visegrád 4 (V4) countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary) to the Zeitenwende [turning point] in Germany, focusing