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With the recent German Coalition agreement in place, attention turns to Germany’s role in Europe.
Though the election campaign revolved around issues of domestic politics, the approved coalition agreement included a chapter on Germany’s role in the EU, Europe and the world. There is talk that Berlin is faced with a task of “strategic reflection.” Whether the coalition agreement is the basis for that or not remains to be seen. Yet, looking from the Baltic Sea region, there is reason for concern.
In recent public appearances at Munich Security Conference and LSE, Defence Minister von der Leyen represented the idea of comprehensive approach in Germany’s foreign and security policy.
A comprehensive approach is nothing new in the security discourse. The core idea is that development and security complement each other in areas affected by conflict. In the words of von der Leyen at Munich Security Conference this year: “After a hard-fought battle to drive ISIL out of a city, we can only win the hearts and minds of the people by ensuring that water, electricity and jobs are quickly restored. At the same time, aid workers need to know that they are not alone and defenceless – that military personnel are at their side. The aid worker and the soldier need one another.”
It is true that in the current climate of international affairs, areas of conflict, be it in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan or Mali, are some of the most challenging regions in the world and have a direct impact to the EU and Europe. However, the need for a comprehensive approach in these regions is great.
Despite recognition of the need of a comprehensive approach in confronting Europe’s many challenges, Defence Minister von der Leyen did not mention specifics on how Germany will be contributing to the defence of Europe. In the current climate of international affairs, power politics is back and the EU shares a common border with an aggressive adversary—Russia.
It is troubling that the focus of Germany’s security policy largely remains beyond Europe. Ensuring the security of conflict inflicted areas outside of the EU is as important as NATO commitments in Europe.
Germany currently is NATO’s enhanced forward presence (eFP) framework country in Lithuania, alongside the UK in Estonia, Canada in Latvia and the U.S. in Poland. Since 2014, Germany has contributed annually to Baltic Air Policing Mission and frequently takes part in regional exercises and has demonstrated its commitment to developing people-to-people contacts in the region.
Yet, Germany lacks a vision and strategy for the region and Europe vis-a-vis the East.
Germany has been dodging the bullet of European security for years and it seems that it continues to do so.
Germany is the center of Europe geographically, economically and politically and it needs to start taking responsibility for European security. Returning to the coalition agreement, Germany’s next government hopes to develop a new sense of responsibility, “We need a new culture of responsibility, where the reliability of Europe as a partner in the Western world increases and where our position distinguishably strengthens.” However, reliability will not come by helping others so long as Germany’s own security and defence issues remain unaddressed.
While the transatlantic relationship continues to be the cornerstone of European security, Germany’s contribution to collective defence should be amplified. The Baltic Sea region would benefit from a clear vision for European security from Germany, including support to the transatlantic relationship and a coherent and realistic foreign policy towards Russia and our Eastern neighbors.
Germany celebrates its famous vacationing spots at the Baltic Sea- Ostseeküste. Geographically, Germany is a member of the Baltic Sea region and it is time for Germany to also take up more responsibility for the security of the region.
This article was published first at: ICDS Blog. ICDS is the leading think-tank in Estonia specialising in foreign policy, security and defence issues. We aim to be the regional knowledge hub of first choice for the security and defence communities of Estonia, its allies and partners
The author:
Piret Kuusik- Junior Researcher of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute at ICDS Piret.Kuusik@icds.ee
Piret Kuusik is Junior Researcher at the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute at International Centre for Defence and Security in Tallinn, Estonia. Her work focuses on Europe, the Baltic Sea Region, EU foreign and security policy, and Franco-German relations. She holds a BA in International Relations from the University of York (UK) and an MA in International Security from the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Sciences Po Paris.
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