Trust is the currency of alliances, and between Berlin and Washington, the account is overdrawn. Leading German economists and politicians are sounding the alarm, urging the Bundesbank to immediately repatriate the country’s massive gold reserves from the United States. The reason? The "unpredictable" policies of President Donald Trump.

Germany holds the world’s second-largest gold reserves, a staggering national treasure. But a significant chunk of it—1,236 tonnes, worth approximately €164 billion (KES 24.6 trillion)—sits in the vaults of the Federal Reserve in New York. Critics argue that in the age of "America First," leaving your family jewels in your neighbor’s safe is a fool’s game.

The Fear Factor

Emanuel Mönch, a former Bundesbank research head, didn't mince words: "It is risky to store so much gold in the US." The fear is that in a trade war or geopolitical spat, the US could weaponize these assets.

• Sovereignty Risk: Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a prominent MEP, argued that trust in transatlantic partners is no longer enough. "We need sovereignty over our economy," she declared.
• The Greenland Precedent: The anxiety is fueled by Trump’s unconventional moves, such as the renewed talk of buying Greenland. If international norms are being rewritten, is any contract safe?
• The Repatriation Trend: Germany already brought back some gold a decade ago. This new push demands they finish the job.

The Kenyan Lens

This is a lesson in statecraft for Kenya. If Germany, a NATO ally and economic powerhouse, is afraid of leaving its assets in the US, what does that say about the safety of our own foreign reserves? It underscores the volatility of the current global order.

Gold is the ultimate hedge against chaos. Germany wants hers back home, under her own mattress. In a world where treaties are torn up on Twitter (or X), physical possession is nine-tenths of the law. The message to the Bundesbank is clear: Bring it home before the locks change.