For Ursula von Leyen, Munich Security conference this year is a kind of security-policy air Guitar Competition: From loudspeakers come old hits, it also rocks somehow, but right instruments would be better – and audience is Demanding. They assume that defense minister will reappear if German government is able to play properly again. But how will it sound?
At any rate, greetings troop is to be booked worldwide: Germany has been promising for years to assume more responsibility internationally, in particular to fulfil its obligations within NATO. This is also sound of coalition agreement for Bundeswehr. These days, however, are mainly critical fans, who have not escaped: equipment is broken or missing, whole band does not quite know where to go and wher it is good enough for it. It will cost you all money. It's a tough business.
More responsibility for EuropeOf course, defense minister knows what arrives in Munich. Europe, she says, must "also throw more weight into balance of military". It defines more autonomy and self-responsibility precisely for security and defence as a central European task for future – with all emphasis on importance of partnership with USA in future: "We want to remain transatlantic, but we want to Become more European. " In foreign policy community, which fills hall at Hotel Bayerischer Hof, this is almost evergreens.
What really everyone wants to hear: what does Germany contribute to this? Four years ago, this had clearly promised to do justice to its economic and political weight with a stronger international commitment – not only but also militarily. This time European version of much desired number in Greetings speech: "Building skills and structures is one," she says. "The or is common will to actually use military weight if circumstances so require." Europe must "finally take more speed".
© Time Online Carsten Lur Editor for International Politics in politics, economy and society, time online to authors pageand Germany? The Minister demands that her country should not hide behind its history as a strengned democracy and must accept that soldiers should fight for his safety and freedom. It counts on which missions Bundeswehr is involved, from Mali to Afghanistan, from Mediterranean to Iraq, what important tasks one will take in NATO, how to participate in emerging structured defence cooperation in EU, how closely Cooperation with France. In itself, this is not a bad message. But many in Munich would have liked more.
Perhaps among m is also greetings French colleague, Florence Parly, who speaks after German minister. Parly says: Just as a "solid economy starts at home, a robust European defense begins at home"; So European strength is beginning at national level. But France also has more music in it, for example, when it comes to NATO appointment, for instance, to spend up to 2025 two percent of gross domestic product for defence: The French are currently 1.8 percent and have a serious plan to To modernise ir armed forces and achieve goal.
Germany comes to 1.2 percent. In coalition agreement, two-percent promise is not literally talk, but only a corridor to which one wants to approach. However, fixed planned 250 million in addition per year will hardly suffice to make a significant progress in this direction. From Leyen, it can be said how difficult starting position is: "What has been invested too little for a quarter of a century is not going to be picked up in two years."
Date Of Update: 17 February 2018, 12:02
