AfD Calls for New German Raw Materials Strategy – Security & Industry Focus
Berlin – The Alternative for Germany (AfD) parliamentary group in the Bundestag is prioritizing raw materials policy, calling for a comprehensive realignment grounded in foreign and security policy considerations. The move comes as Germany faces increasing export restrictions from China and a shifting global landscape with the expansion of the BRICS economic alliance to include resource-rich nations.
The AfD argues that securing global supply chains for critical minerals is a crucial intersection of foreign, security, and industrial policy. According to a statement released by the party, existing partnerships with countries like Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Peru have yielded limited results due to financial obstacles and a lack of interest from German businesses in establishing concrete raw material agreements.
“It cannot be that our German farmers…,” began Peter Felser, Parliamentary Managing Director of the AfD parliamentary group, in a statement released August 20, 2025, regarding the extension of the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into cheese and milk powder from Europe in response to Chinese tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The AfD contends that consistent state involvement is now essential.
The AfD is advocating for a raw materials strategy coordinated by the Chancellery, the appointment of a permanent envoy for raw materials policy, annual reports on raw materials security, and a standing agenda item dedicated to “raw materials policy” within the National Security Council. The party emphasizes that German raw materials policy should primarily serve the needs of domestic industry and actively engage within the Minerals Security Partnership to secure long-term, reliable partnerships and a stronger negotiating position for Germany.
On February 24, 2026, Peter Felser, Chairman of the German-Chinese Parliamentary Group and Parliamentary Managing Director of the AfD parliamentary group, stated that China remains an important partner for Germany, pointing to trade volumes that surpassed those with the United States in 2025, reaching €251.8 billion. Felser cautioned against protectionist measures, arguing that combating competition from China with subsidies and tariffs would ultimately be ineffective and urged the Chancellor to distance himself from the European Union’s protectionist course.
The AfD’s focus on raw materials comes amid scrutiny of China’s political influence and potential vulnerabilities in European supply chains. A September 23, 2025, inquiry from the AfD to the Federal Government, prompted by statements from Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, requested clarification on terms such as “systemic rivalry,” “growing military self-confidence,” and “increasingly aggressive behavior” by China in the Taiwan Strait. The government has yet to respond.
The AfD’s position on China as well contrasts with concerns raised regarding the party’s own image within China. A report from tagesschau.de, dated February 22, 2025, detailed the surprising level of attention AfD chairwoman Alice Weidel receives on Chinese social media platforms, despite the German government’s classification of the AfD as a right-wing extremist group.