Angela Merkel led Germany towards a close military cooperation with Russia, including assistance and technology, up until the invasion of Crimea in 2014.

A Der Spiegel article details the military collaboration between Germany and Russia, under the leadership of Angela Merkel, which included training Russian troops and delivering advanced technology. Despite the annexation of Crimea, Germany continued to support military projects, including the construction of a training center in Russia. German officials now acknowledge that this cooperation was a historic mistake, considering Russia's imperial ambitions. Merkel also supported Moscow-favorable projects, such as the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, affecting Germany's image internationally.