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Fundamental change for Germany's security policy?

Since the “White Book on Security and the future of the German Armed Forces 2016” was published this summer (July 2016), one notes the increased effort being made to make German security policy more comprehensible to the general public. This particularly concerns the role of the Bundeswehr (German Federal Armed Forces) and the deployment of security forces in international affairs. 

[Translate to English:] MdB Roderich Kieseletter beim MAC-Bonn in September 2016

 

Why are the lives of our sons and daughters being put at risk?

 

When men and women are deployed in combat zones, questions as to why the lives of sons and daughters should be put at risk are not easy to answer: Were there sufficient negotiations? Was diplomacy allowed to run its course? This is highly relevant because in all major conflicts, the past and the historical consciousness of a nation state (and the current vested interests of major powers through proxy wars for example) are always the driving forces behind violence or intransigence; and with pleasant words alone, the future cannot be shaped.

On 14th September, Roderich Kiesewetter, member of the German federal parliament (MdB) since 2009 for the Christian Democratic Union (the CDU, Angela Merkel’s party), featured as guest speaker of the Bonn Mid-Atlantic Club. Highly engaged, Kiesewetter spoke knowledgeably on matters relating to Germany’s current security policy and the various conflicts affecting German interests. As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CDU/CSU faction and member of the Foreign Affairs and the Defence Committees, Kiesewetter is certainly well-informed about these matters. And whether with regard to Turkey, the crises in the Middle East or Africa, the parliamentary deputy illustrated just what sort of decision-making has to be made in collaboration with allies and nominal allies - such as Turkey itself.

Even if one is not in total agreement with all his conclusions and proposed measures--particularly in light of the fact that the speaker largely reflected his CDU party position in pre-election year--Kiesewetter presented current developments clearly and concisely. Drawing upon a military career as a former Colonel with deployments abroad, he was able to describe the various strategic contexts in a concise and structured way. During the ensuing question and answer session which focussed on Turkey, the consequences of Brexit, the creation of a European defence community and countering cyber-attacks, Kiesewetter was again able to provide insight into the delicate current global strategic situation.

 

 

…whether or not the Bundeswehr is sufficiently prepared.

 


In his introduction to the presentation, MAC-Bonn Chairman Friedhelm Ost, former Secretary of State at the Federal Press Office, had provided an overview of the various interventions in which the German Federal Army is engaged. These include deployments in Afghanistan, Mali, Syria; Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and in all, nearly 20 areas of the world in which Germany, together with its allies, is involved. This situation inevitably raises the question about what exactly the current security policy challenges facing Germany are and whether or not the Bundeswehr is sufficiently prepared.

 

 

…the widening gap between rich and poor as well as the possibility of hybrid conflict need to be considered...

 

Kiesewetter stated the need for “security and cohesion” in society and in the European Community. He emphasised that the perception that Germany is surrounded by friends and partners has fundamentally changed and that “this narrative is no longer true”. Rather that the situation is now shaped by five new factors: that Germany is increasingly surrounded by so called “failing states”, the demographic development of Africa (a continent which is likely to grow to more than 2.5 billion people by 2050), the ongoing plundering of African assets by corporations; the changing status of religion and the widening gap between rich and poor.

With regard to Russia, Kiesewetter suggested that there there will be an increase in hybrid conflict and that disinformation-- the falsification of “news and information”--will make it increasingly difficult to implement orderly political relations.
All of these factors will naturally have an impact on future global migration flows; a theme which is by no means the only crisis which the German government together with its European allies and other major powers will have to confront.

 

 

for millennia, Europe has been part of the identity of North Africa

 

Back in July, Kiesewetter together with his Italian colleague Paolo Alli, published an article in the German Daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ, 04.07.16), in which the authors presented the concept for “on site” development aid in Africa in order to more efficiently counter potential new waves of refugees coming from the continent. It was argued that a “broad approach” was needed, which involved “elements of trade policy, development policy and foreign cultural policy”.
From an historical perspective, such an approach was conditioned by the fact that “for millennia, Europe has been part of the identity of North Africa” - a basis for facilitating the mobility of specialists and young academics and implementing countermeasures against the collapse of statehood in many African countries. Accordingly, Libya should be stabilised by a security operation in order to “transform Africa into a stability anchor” - as the headline of the article suggested.

These are concepts that are indeed worthy of discussion and just recently, former President Horst Köhler called for a “real” partnership with Africa, including “legal” travel opportunities for young people who want to study seriously. However, this debate is often neglected in the public arena - particularly with respect to the various trade agreements between the EU and African countries which often fail to lead to the creation of new work places.

 

 

the impossibility of 'Fortress Europe'

 

During his talk, Kiesewetter warned about the impossibility of creating a “fortress Europe” - a policy of closing and sealing the border as for example Spain’s policy of the border fence of Ceuta and Melilla, demonstrates. As witnessed during his travels, a 7 metre high fence reinforced with razor wire, resulted in African refugees who try to escape suffering severe flesh wounds and other injuries. This situation has led to the necessity of changing the Spanish border police at very short intervals, because they cannot endure the misery which they witness.

Without going further into all the specific details in the article regarding current security policy, Kiesewetter used a metaphor by emphasising that “in the Middle East the guns are ready to fire”, warning that perhaps Egypt may be the next “powder keg”. A few days after his presentation in Bonn (MAC), Kiesewetter had been in Lebanon and the refugee camp at Zahlé, reporting on his website that it is our “foreign policy task to help the countries bordering Syria and provide them sufficient humanitarian aid for refugees.” And at the beginning of September, Kiesewetter in his capacity as chairman of a delegation, made a 3-day visit to Israel where he was able to receive first-hand information regarding the current situation.

Asked during the discussion in Bonn about the consequences of Brexit, Kiesewetter reemphasised--as many discussants of MAC had previously stated--that according to the Lisbon Treaty, the exit of an EU member state from the EU makes the application of the formula “Permanent Structured Cooperation” possible.

 

 

current security policy conditions should be disseminated to a wider public - as indeed the Mid-Atlantic Clubs have been doing for over 40 years

 

Kiesewetter suggested to the members of the Club that current security policy conditions should be disseminated to a wider public - as indeed the Mid-Atlantic Clubs have been doing for over 40 years. Moreover, in the opinion of the author of this article, such meetings with political leaders, who have to make far-reaching decisions every day, are very important in order to engage a broader public. It is indispensable to have security policy discussions (partly confidential) which are not subject to the sensationalist environment of a “talk show”; essential is the possibility for discussing the “dividing lines” and “common ground” beyond party boundaries and to carefully evaluate the consequences. Indeed, such discussions should not be determined by the language used in the typical “Federal Agency for Civic Education”-style; what is important here is to develop a direct and vivid language. The old Latin saying “Audiatur et altera pars” (also listen to the other part, according to Roman law) is essential, so that party political interests and stereotypical patterns do not obscure the truly contentious areas.

Certainly the “White Paper” is correct in its conclusions concerning the future of the Bundeswehr when it states: “Today, a Bundeswehr which is being given a new orientation whilst being reduced in size, is confronted with an unprecedented magnitude of parallel crises and conflicts”. A presentation however, based on direct experience, as MdB Kiesewetter demonstrated at the MAC, is better suited to conveying the situation with respect to the clash of conflicting interests deeply rooted in history and culture. This is crucial in order to understand the decisions made or those which have yet to be made. Schematic formulas, threats, or incantations (as can be seen in the developments in relations between Russia and the USA), will not help.

One would have also liked to have heard Kiesewetter share his thoughts on the recent proclamations of US Presidential candidate Trump and on Hillary Clinton’s past record as Secretary of State. Also absent were new proposals for breaking the deadlock in German-Russian relations; something which in so many crisis spots could potentially lead to sustainable solutions.

 

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