Global cooperation is facing exceptional challenges in 2025. The urgency of the moment is undeniable: the resurgence of hunger, accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss, pandemics, and growing conflicts are all threatening the shared future of humanity.

In this context, Germany’s leadership is more vital than ever. The retreat of the United States—under the Trump administration—from key pillars of international cooperation has severely undermined global norms, legal frameworks, and financial support systems. This includes the withdrawal from the WHO and the Paris Agreement, opposition to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, cancellation of involvement in Just Energy Transition Partnerships, and the dismantling of USAID, a cornerstone of many global development efforts.

Domestically, Germany's new coalition government is now tasked with shaping the country’s future approach to international cooperation. However, despite record levels of borrowing in the federal budget, proposed spending cuts could significantly affect all areas of Germany’s global engagement. The longstanding bipartisan support for international cooperation is showing signs of strain.

The inaugural Berlin Forum on Global Cooperation, hosted by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Humboldt University of Berlin, aims to spark a critical dialogue on Germany’s role and responsibilities toward the Global South in this period of profound disruption. At no point has such a conversation been more crucial.