Germany is bringing its gold home. The economic powerhouse holds a whopping 1,200 tons of gold reserves, second only to the United States on the global stage. That’s a lot of shiny metal. Most of it sits in vaults at the US Federal Reserve in Manhattan, worth about €113 billion. Not exactly pocket change.

The Germans have been squirreling away this gold since after World War II. They turned trade surpluses into gold under the Bretton Woods system. Smart move. Now they want it back where they can see it. Can you blame them?

Officially, the Bundesbank calls this a “routine realignment of reserves.” Right. Because moving billions in gold across the Atlantic is something everyone does on Tuesday afternoons. The real story? Germany’s getting nervous about keeping all its eggs in America’s basket.

Germany’s not buying its own “routine” story. They want their gold where American hands can’t reach it.

The gold repatriation comes amid rising tensions between the US and EU. Trade spats, NATO funding arguments – the relationship’s seen better days. Germany’s thinking ahead, positioning itself for a multipolar world where financial independence matters. They’re not stupid.

There’s also that pesky issue of rehypothecation – gold being used as collateral multiple times. Kind of like lending out your car to three different people simultaneously. The Germans are understandably concerned their gold might be playing musical chairs without their permission.

Political support for bringing the gold home runs strong. The Christian Democratic Union wants regular inspections and Bundestag oversight. Some politicians bluntly demand moving everything to Frankfurt. The CDU’s concerns are specifically linked to Trump’s administration and its unpredictable policies. Trust issues much?

Economically, having gold close at hand means better liquidity management and control. The repatriation has dramatically increased the domestic storage from merely 31% before 2013 to over 50% today. It’s a security blanket against market chaos. Gold doesn’t crash like markets do.

In uncertain times, Germany’s making a statement: we want our gold where we can touch it. Can’t really put a price on peace of mind. Though in this case, that price tag reads €113 billion.