The rise of China as an important political and economic power challenges established foreign policypractices in Germany and Europe, while the reduced appetite of the United States (US) to underwritetheinternational rules-based system further complicates the situation. In the past, policy makerstended to pursue international security objectives and international economic goals separately andwith distinct instruments. This orthodoxy is no longer tenable. International economic tools andarrangements – e.g. the conditions of access to domestic markets and technologies, the use ofpayment systems, the negotiation of debt contracts – are increasingly used to achieve various foreignpolicy goals. These range from the sanctioning of violations of international law or universal humanrights to the protection of global commons such as the climate or biodiversity, but are simultaneouslyused to promote own political interests, sometimes to the detriment of partner countries. This“weaponized interdependence” makes it necessary for Germany and the European Union (EU) toassess their vulnerabilities and to design their own defensive and offensive strategies.