Germany will change its security strategy, known as the White Book, in response to Russia’s actions and attempts to use “power politics and military force”. This will bring a formal end to the German post-war pacifist policy and will allow the armed troops to act “without any taboos” in international military operations, announced the Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen. “Russia’s actions in Ukraine fundamentally change the security architecture in Europe,” said von der Leyen in Berlin, explaining that Germany’s new policy must take account of the Russian attempts “to establish geostrategic power politics and military force as a form of asserting their interests”.
“We should have no illusions. Kremlin’s new policy began long before the crisis in Ukraine and will occupy us for a very very long time to come,” she added. Until now, Germany supported a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine and led a push within Europe to impose sanctions against Russia, according to Reuters.
In the new strategy, German armed forces will become more involved in strengthening NATO’s defense, something that is already happening in Eastern Europe. Also, it will be an answer to other developments such as the rise of the militant Islamic State, the Arab Spring, climate change and cyber attacks, which shows that Germany is seeking a more assertive global role. Last year, Germany decided to send arms and ammunition to the Kurdish forces that fight against ISIL and last month the Parliament approved sending up to 100 soldiers in northern Iraq to train these forces. This will be the first German deployment without NATO or U.N. mandate.
The White Books are published by the German Defense Ministry since 1969 to outline the strategic agenda and the last one came out in 2006. Although the public opinion was against any military role in international conflicts and the country was hesitant in taking parts until now, the government officials asked lately for a more aggressive foreign policy.