Germany Considering a More Muscular Foreign Policy

[Frodo]

I can see the shadow of Adolf Hitler no longer constrains Germany as it once did:

Spurred by Global Crises, Germany Weighs a More Muscular Foreign Policy

By ALISON SMALE
FEB. 1, 2014

MUNICH — German leaders are pushing a vigorous new case that it is time for their nation to find a more muscular voice in foreign affairs, even suggesting that Germany should no longer reflexively avoid some military deployments, as it did in Libya almost three years ago.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has yet to weigh in on the use of the military, and it is not clear how willing the German public is to embrace a more assertive posture. But a variety of senior officials are urging a rethinking of the country’s assumptions about its diplomatic and military role. They are driven partly by alarm about crises from Ukraine to Africa, but also by unease about the strength of Germany’s partnership with the United States after revelations of American spying, and about American officials’ increasing reluctance to take the lead in interventions.

President Joachim Gauck sent the strongest signal yet of a possible change in direction with a speech late Friday at the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering that attracts an array of world leaders and defense experts and has historically been a forum for sharp policy debates.

[politicus]

Hope they abstain. A low key non-militaristic foreign policy is best for Germany.

[RogueBeaver]

Believe when seen.

[windjammer]

Believe when seen.

[Consciously Unconscious]

If they want to do it; it's not like anyone is going to stop them.  I can't see this being very popular though.  If there is unease with US spying, we definitely should not be tapping Merkel's phone.  The United States does not want Germany as its enemy. 

[Middle-aged Europe]

Well, first of all... the main point this article tries to make is that Germany is possibly returning to a more active role in military matters, similar to the one it already maintained under Gerhard Schröder's administration (you do realize that Germany bombed Serbia back in 1999, right?). That's like saying that the Obama administration's foreign policy is about to become more Bush-like again. So there's nothing that revolutionary in there.


The article then seemes to be based on two basic points: Germany's abstention on the UN resolution authorizing military action against Libya in 2011. And a speech recently given by Joachim Gauck on foreign policy. Let me first adress Gauck's speech. Speeches by the German president are about as significant as speeches made by the British Queen. When a German president gives a speech, he states his personal opinion. Because that's basically the president's job. And Joachim Gauck has lots of opinions on a lot of matters.

Regarding the Security Council abstention on Libya, I would like to point out that this UN resolution was passed three days prior to the state election in Saxony-Anhalt and ten days prior to the state elections in in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, at a time when the CDU was in enough trouble already over Fukushima.

Merkel simply didn't want to have another possibly controversial issue interfering with an already derailed election campaign. In the end, it didn't helped much though since the CDU did lose the office of the Baden-Württembergian minister-president for the first time since 1953 in that election.

Yes, Merkel's success as a politican is primarily based on avoiding unpopular decisions and to go with the tide, so to speak. That's why she did a 180 on nuclear energy following Fukushima. And that's why she abstained on Libya in the Security Council. That won't change substantially as long as she's Chancellor. If she thinks a military intervention may hurt her in the polls too much, she won't do it.

Doesn't change the fact that German troops are in Afghanistan since 2001 though.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

What could possibly go wrong?

[H. Ross Peron]

I'm most happy to see our allies take on more military responsibilities.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

I'm fine with this. Germany under Merkel is one of the most stable, responsible countries in Europe today.

[MaxQue]

Speeches by the German president are about as significant as speeches made by the British Queen.

Any political statement made by the Queen is written by the Prime Minister Office, so her speeches are significant.

[Cory]

Good.

[Lief 🗽]

They've conquered Europe in the last decade without firing a single bullet. Why fix what ain't broken?

[Middle-aged Europe]

Speeches by the German president are about as significant as speeches made by the British Queen.

Any political statement made by the Queen is written by the Prime Minister Office, so her speeches are significant.

Oh, in that case speeches made by the German president are less significant than the British Queen's, because he's letting his own people write his speeches.


Anyway, I think the most relevant passages in that article are the final two:

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1. The US government would like to see a more a active role from Germany.

2. Rhetorics aside, nothing substantially is gonna change though.

(The irony is... this is exactly what is happening with regards to the NSA spying scandal too, just with reversed roles.)

[Franknburger]

1. The US government would like to see a more a active role from Germany.

2. Rhetorics aside, nothing substantially is gonna change though.

(The irony is... this is exactly what is happening with regards to the NSA spying scandal too, just with reversed roles.)

That's not irony, that is politics (and a nice way of reminding the US government that cooperation isn't a one-way process).

[Velasco]

Certain comparisons are hideous, even when I'm not an enthusiastic supporter of air raids.

[Yeahsayyeah]

Joschka Fischer was not called neuer Ribbentrop for nothing.

Evidence needed...

[Middle-aged Europe]

Ok, it was more general perception of German foreign policy under Schröder era. Especially friendly relationships with Russia over East of Europe. I just remember that fellow Europeans were quite scared during Red-Green government.

This was just Gerhard Schröder having his bromance with Vladmir Putin... a personal relationship which has apparently continued to this day.

Joschka Fischer has and had actually a more transatlantic orientation than Schröder. Despite his "I'm not convinced speech" to Rumsfeld and all. After all, Fischer briefly served as a professor at Princeton following his tenure as foreign minister, before becoming a consultant for Madeleine Albright's firm (a partnership between the two ex-diplomats which is still maintained today: http://www.albrightstonebridge.com/team/joschka-fischer).

[RodPresident]

All of question is Russian gas. Germany and EU couldn't piss off Putin because he holds the tap.

[AkSaber]

Look at what good it's done us...

[politicus]

All of question is Russian gas. Germany and EU couldn't piss off Putin because he holds the tap.

Yeah, Germany should just conquer Russia and put and end to this turning the tap nonsense.

[Tender Branson]

This is what the Germans want (new Infratest dimap poll):

"More German intervention in international crisis areas is ..."



52% generally good
44% generally bad

"Germany should intervene in international crisis areas with ..."



85-13 yes - humanitarian aid in the area affected
84-14 yes - diplomacy and talks
33-63 no - with financial aid
22-75 no - with military intervention together with international partners

"Trustful partners of Germany"



France: 80-16 partner you can trust
UK: 63-32 partner you can trust
US: 39-57 partner you can NOT trust
Russia: 18-78 partner you can NOT trust

http://www.tagesschau.de/inland/deutschlandtrend2150.html