Partnerships for the socio-ecological transformation are essential for Germany and the EU to decarbonise their economies successfully and achieve strategic autonomy for future-oriented sectors. The stated policy goals of these partnerships break with existing economic relationships based on free trade. Instead, they declare a dual goal of securing resources and inputs for the EU while also strengthening local value creation and sustainable development. These goals are advanced not least to make partnering with the EU and Germany competitive vis-à-vis efforts by China and other geoeconomic rivals to secure resources from and trade relations with the same partners.