On March 1, 2025, a high-profile expert discussion titled “How Economic Sanctions Harm Us” took place in Schnellroda, Saxony-Anhalt. The event was organized by the AfD Saxony-Anhalt in cooperation with the initiative “Stop the Sanctions” and attracted around 100 interested attendees. The discussion aimed to assess the socio-economic impact of Germany’s participation in Western sanctions, analyze humanitarian and legal aspects, and examine the evolution of sanction mechanisms in the past, present, and future. Additionally, the event addressed the potential positioning of an AfD-led government regarding sanctions as a means of advancing national interests.
Dr. Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, Member of the AfD parliamentary group in Saxony-Anhalt, introduced and moderated the event.
J.C. Kofner, an economist at the MIWI Institute, provided a detailed introduction to the objectives and categories of sanctions as well as the affected economic sectors. He referred to a 2020 study by IfW Kiel, which estimated that Western sanctions had cost the German economy 0.2% of GDP. However, Germany’s involvement in the EU sanctions against Russia had become particularly severe, amounting to 2.5% of GDP in 2024—a loss equivalent to €2,500 per average household. According to a MIWI Institute analysis, lifting German sanctions against MENA countries could reduce mass migration by 0.5%. Kofner fundamentally opposed sanctions but supported reducing development aid to countries that refuse remigration agreements with Germany.
Dr. Rainer Rothfuß, Member of the Bundestag (AfD parliamentary group), explained the negative effects of sanctions, highlighting the “rally-around-the-flag effect” or the “besieged fortress effect,” which strengthens sanctioned governments. Using Russia as an example, he noted that Putin’s approval ratings rose from 61% to 87% following sanctions. He also examined humanitarian consequences, such as in Syria, where the doctor-to-population ratio worsened from one doctor per 600 residents to one per 4,000 residents. Lastly, Rothfuß emphasized the illegality of unilateral EU and US sanctions under international law, as Articles 39 and 41 of the UN Charter grant exclusive sanctioning authority to the UN Security Council.
Martin Reichardt, Member of the Bundestag (AfD parliamentary group), criticized German media for portraying economic decline due to sanctions as a success. He drew historical parallels to Britain’s naval blockade in World War I, which caused up to 850,000 civilian deaths. Given these past experiences, he argued that it is essential to reject sanctions outright and ensure Germany’s resilience in securing strategic goods, including food, energy, and military supplies. He also claimed that the West never intended a military resolution in the Ukraine war but merely used it to weaken both Russia and Germany while maintaining long-term arms contracts.
Dr. Maximilian Krah, Member of the Bundestag (AfD parliamentary group), argued that power, independence, and prosperity will depend on two key factors in the future: cheap energy and technological leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). He stressed that there are only two global AI leaders—China and the USA—while Europe is hopelessly lagging behind. Even America’s tech-right insists that Germany and Europe remain part of the US digital AI sphere. He sharply criticized Germany’s energy policy of recent years, citing:
- Nuclear phase-out
- Coal phase-out
- Dismantling of gas infrastructure
- Rejection of cheap Russian natural gas
These policies, he argued, have severely weakened the German economy. He predicted that traditional sanctions would lose significance in the future. Instead, digital sanctions—such as cutting off internet access, AI technologies, and satellite navigation—would become the most powerful geopolitical tools. An AfD government, he concluded, must strategically position itself to ensure Germany’s digital sovereignty.
The event concluded with a lively panel discussion, where experts responded to audience questions. The debate clearly highlighted that economic sanctions impose enormous costs on the sanctioning countries while raising serious humanitarian and legal concerns for the sanctioned states. The discussion revealed strong public interest in an alternative German sanctions policy, especially one that prioritizes economic sovereignty and reducing mass migration. This high-level expert discussion made a significant contribution to the debate on the future of German economic policy and strategic independence.
