Political overview

Germany is a federal parliamentary democracy comprising 16 federal states (Bundesländer). Legislative power at the federal level is exercised by the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, through which the states participate in federal legislation and administration.

The Federal President is head of state. Executive power is exercised by the Federal Government, comprising the Federal Chancellor and Federal Ministers. The Federal Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag and heads the Federal Government.

Judicial power is exercised by the federal and state courts, with the Federal Constitutional Court having responsibility for constitutional matters. Germany's National Day, the Day of German Unity, is celebrated on 3 October.

Bilateral relations

Germany is a close partner for Australia with a common strategic outlook, shared values and a commitment to the rules-based international order, including in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia and Germany work together to support multilateralism, human rights, trade liberalisation, and shared defence and security objectives. We work closely in multilateral forums, including the UN, G7+ and G20. We also cooperate closely across a range of initiatives for climate action and the clean energy transition.

An Enhanced Strategic Partnership, signed in 2021, provides a foundation for strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, stronger economic cooperation, and joint support for the multilateral system and its institutions.

Foreign policy

Germany contributes actively to international peace and prosperity. Germany is the EU's largest economy and largest contributor to the EU budget. Germany is a strong supporter of multilateralism and one of the world's largest providers of  ODA. It is a leader in responding to challenges on energy security, climate change, nuclear non‑proliferation and counterterrorism. NATO is a central pillar of German defence and security policy.

Germany's Indo-Pacific Policy Guidelines underpin its growing engagement in our region. Germany is an important economic and development partner for the Indo-Pacific and it has increased its involvement in Indo-Pacific military exercises. For example, German frigate and a supply ship (FGS Baden-Wuerttemberg and FGS Frankfurt am-Main) deployed to the Indo-Pacific in 2024, including a Taiwan Strait transit. Germany also participated in ADF Exercises Pitch Black and Kakadu in 2022 and 2024, as well as Exercise Talisman Sabre in 2023 and 2025.

High level engagement

• September 2026 – Foreign Minister Penny Wong met German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Johann Wadephul at the Europe and Indo-Pacific Ministerial Meeting (Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom) on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York.
• June 2026 – Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong met their German counterparts, German Federal Minister of Defence  Boris Pistorius and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Dr Johann Wadephul, for the Australia-Germany 2+2 Ministerial Consultations in Berlin.
• March 2026 – Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy met  German Federal Minister of Defence  Boris Pistorius in Canberra.
• February 2026 – Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell and Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres met with German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs  Dr Johann Wadephul, during his first visit to Australia in Canberra.
• February 2026 – Visit by the German-Pacific Parliamentary Friendship Group to Australia.
• November 2025 – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the G20 Leader's Summit in South Africa.
• September 2025 – Foreign Minister Penny Wong met German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs  Dr Johann Wadephul at the Europe and Indo-Pacific Ministerial Meeting (Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom) on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York.
• September 2025 – Minister Pat Conroy, and Assistant Ministers Matt Thistlethwaite, Anthony Chisholm and Josh Wilson met with Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Mr Stefan Rouenhoff when he visited Canberra.
• July 2025 – Minister Anne Aly met German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali-Radovan at the International Conference for Financing for Development.
• July 2025 – Treasurer Jim Chalmers met  German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil at the G20 meeting.
• June 2025 – Minister for Environment and Water Murray Watt met  German Minister Carsten Schneider at the UN Oceans Conference.
• June 2025 – Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell met German Minister for Economy and Energy, Katherina Reiche, at the OECD Council Meeting.
• May 2025 – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met  Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the G7 in Canada.

Agreements with Germany

Australia has numerous bilateral agreements with Germany, including on social security, double taxation, trade and cultural cooperation.

Texts of bilateral agreements are available at the Australian Treaties Database.

Economic diplomacy

Australia has a substantial economic relationship with Germany. Germany is the third largest economy in the world and is significant for Australia across the breadth of our economic, technology, industry and defence interests. In 2025, Germany was Australia's 13th largest trade partner.

Australia and Germany are also major investment partners. In 2025, Germany was the 14th largest source of total investment in Australia. German investment spans automotive and manufacturing, information and communications technology, agri-food, pharmaceuticals, defence, energy and health.

Australia and Germany have strong research links. Germany has one of the highest levels of permanent research capacity in the world and Germany ranks third globally in terms of the number of research collaborations with Australian Research Council-funded researchers.

Australia and Germany will be key trading partners in the green transition with strong economic complementarity and opportunities to collaborate closely in renewable energy, hydrogen, green metals and critical minerals supply chains.

Our Hydrogen Accord (2021) was the first agreement of its kind by the German government. It includes the joint HyGATE Initiative, intended to support real-world pilot, trial and demonstration projects along the hydrogen supply chain. The Accord also seeks to advance industry-to-industry cooperation and strengthen global trade for renewable hydrogen, building on Germany's H2Global scheme, a mechanism that will support the international market ramp up of green hydrogen exports to Germany.

Following agreement in January 2023 between Minister Bowen and then Vice-Chancellor Habeck, Australia and Germany expanded their existing Energy Partnership to an Energy and Climate Partnership. This partnership was signed on 13 September 2024 by Minister Bowen and then German State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Anja Hajduk.

On 19 June 2026 Australia's Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDoI) with German Parliamentary State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Energy to oversee the bilateral H2Global tender. The JDoI is designed to further deepen Australian-German hydrogen cooperation: under a joint H2Global auction, where both countries will each provide up to 200 million euros - up to a total of 400 million euros combined - to purchase hydrogen products from Australia producers and sell them to German and European offtakers via auctions.

Further economic and trade information [PDF].

Business

There are approximately 600 German companies employing more than 60,000 people in Australia. Major German companies in Australia include Siemens, Bosch, Fuchs, Carl Zeiss (Advanced manufacturing); SAP Research, Software AG (ICT); Evonik, Fresenius Medical Care (Pharmaceuticals); DB Schenker, DHL, Deutsche Bahn, (Logistics, transport and mobility); Allianz, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, (Banking/insurance); BayWa, Enercon, Innogy, RWE, Senvion (Clean energy); Heidelberg Cement/Hanson Australia, BOC/Linde (Materials); Remondis (Waste Management & Water); BASF, Bayer, CSB Engineering, Dr Oetker, Kaufland, Nordzucker (Food and agriculture); and Luerssen, Rheinmetall, ThyssenKrupp (Defence).

Over 160 Australian companies employing around 17,000 people have a presence in Germany, including Macquarie (Infrastructure); IFM, ANZ (Finance); ; Adina Apartments (Tourism); CSL Behring, Cochlear, Resmed, SDI, Sonic Healthcare, Grey Innovation (Medical devices); Nufarm (Food and agriculture); Goodman (Logistics); Cohda Wireless, Computershare, Telstra (Digital technologies); Flame Productions, Greencorp Magnetics (Media); and Amcor (Packaging).

More information on Austrade and doing business in Germany.

Public diplomacy

The Australian Embassy in Berlin promotes bilateral trade and investment as well as Australia's Indo-Pacific perspectives, and arts and culture – including our rich First Nations history and culture – through in-person events and digital diplomacy.

A significant number of Australian artists are based in, or visit, Germany, showcasing expertise in music, performing and visual arts, literature and arts management. The cultural diversity of both countries supports a long history of exchange in culture, arts and sport. The Australian Embassy in Berlin promotes numerous festivals and events in Germany that showcase Australian art and culture, including the annual Down Under Film Festival.

Germany is a large source of student enrolments in Australia. Postgraduate studies provide Australian institutions with the greatest opportunities to enter the German market, particularly in the areas of information technology, international law, and international business and technology.

Australian Embassy in Berlin

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