Habeck Warns of Trade, Tariff, and Tech Weaponization

0:00On March 13, Germany's former economy minister, Robert Habich, warns that global powers have shifted from just using energy as a weapon during. Russia's invasion of Ukraine to weaponizing trade, tariffs, and technology since Donald Trump's return to the White House. He points to past mistakes, like Germany's heavy reliance on Russian gas through the Nord Stream pipelines, which left the country vulnerable win. Experts were cut off. That energy shock has now been joined by a major crisis in the Middle East, where attacks involving the United States and Israel on Iran led to retaliatory strikes closing the strait of Hormuz. This key route carries 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, causing sharp price spikes in fears of the biggest supply, disruption in oil market history. Habich recalls sleepless nights during the Ukraine crisis, racing to secure alternative gas supplies, and build import terminals to keep factories. Running. He defended short delays in shutting down Germany's last nuclear plants, and pushing for heat pumps

1:03over gas boilers, despite backlash that labeled his. Heating rules a heavy-handed policy. Public frustration over high costs, and personal inconveniences, contributed to the greens losing power in the coalition government back in February. 2025. Yet recent state election wins, shows some recovery, and Nordic countries mock Germany's slow adoption of clean heating tech. Germany is catching up on renewables, electric vehicles, and efficient heating systems, putting the country on a steadier path despite the delays.