The Transformation of Germany’s Strategic Vision in the 2010s

Abstract

The study examines the transformation of German strategic thinking towards assuming greater international responsibilities through the analysis of strategic documents and policy papers adopted in the past decade. It also identifies the characteristics of Germany’s strategic vision for the 2020s. First, the analysis examines the conceptual picture of the documents regarding Germany’s strategic environment, namely the geographical focus and character of the perceived threats, the identified opportunities for pursuing German interests, the prioritised foreign policy tools, the primary frameworks for homeland defence and international operations, as well as Germany’s readiness to use military force. The second batch of factors examined is related to the armed forces, analysing the changes in the German defence expenditure since 2008, the financing of respective budgetary fields within defence spending, as well as the future strategic view for the use of the armed forces and its future tasks. The analysis also examines whether intensifying international cooperation was a determining factor of capability development. Based on all these factors, the authors offer a comprehensive picture of the changes of Germany’s strategic vision from a foreign, security and defence policy point of view.