The Director of the Centre for International Security and Professor of International Relations discusses Germany's strategic options in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.
Marina Henke, Director of the Centre for International Security and Professor of International Relations at the Hertie School, has contributed to the prestigious Berichte zur Lage der Nation 2024 (State of the Nation 2024 report) with her essay titled Deutschlands strategische Optionen: Ein Plädoyer für Klarheit (Germany's strategic options: A plea for clarity), published in October 2024. The essay addresses the pressing need for Germany to re-evaluate its security strategy following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, emphasising the importance of decisive action in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. Henke criticises the 2023 German National Security Strategy as missing the mark on developing a strategy for Germany that is logically coherent and strategically sound.
“Die neu entworfene Nationale Sicherheitsstrategie ist im Grunde eine endlos lange Wunschliste und deshalb praktisch unbrauchbar” (The newly designed National Security Strategy is essentially an endlessly long wish list and therefore practically useless), states Henke.
The essay is part of a broader discussion in the fifth volume of Berichte zur Lage der Nation, edited by Thomas Mirow and published by the Deutsche Nationalstiftung, which aims to address critical questions surrounding Germany's national identity and strategic priorities in light of contemporary crises. The volume features contributions from prominent intellectuals and politicians, including Marlene Knobloch, Serap Güler, Verena Pausder, and Andreas Voßkuhle, and others.
Henke outlines three potential strategic options for Germany:
- Transatlantic renewal: Strengthening ties with the U.S. as the primary security guarantor, necessitating increased defence spending and a clear alignment with U.S. interests, particularly in its rivalry with China.
- European strategic autonomy: Reducing dependence on the U.S. by developing independent European military capabilities and potentially creating a joint European nuclear deterrent, which would require significant investment and further political integration among EU states.
- Minimal defence: Focusing on basic defence capabilities while relying on diplomatic means to address most security issues, which risks leaving Germany vulnerable and could lead to a perception of weakness.
With the backdrop of ongoing global challenges, including wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, rapid immigration, and climate crises, the essay provides critical insights into the future direction of Germany. As part of the Deutsche Nationalstiftung's initiative, Henke’s work aims to foster a deeper understanding of what it means to be German in the 21st century and what unifies the nation amidst growing complexities.
You can read Henke’s essay here (in German).
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