Germany's"Zeitenwende"and Its Implications for the European Security Landscape
After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict,German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a widely publicized"Zeitenwende"speech in the Bundestag.The"Zeitenwende"originally referred to the deterioration of Germany's external environment,but has now been extended to a"Zeitenwende"in Germany's security and defense policy.Scholz identified five action tasks for the"Zeitenwende",and to do so broke many"political taboos"on Germany's security and defense policy,including the delivery of weapons to crisis areas,enhancement of the Bundeswehr's capacity and defense spending through a special fund,and the decision to permanently station troops abroad.Based on the fact that Germany now sees Russia as the greatest threat to Euro-Atlantic security,Germany has also changed its previous role as a security"consumer",advocating the role of European security guarantor.Germany's intention is to make the Bundeswehr the cornerstone of Europe's conventional defense and,by sending a permanently stationed combat brigade to Lithuania,to demonstrate its ambition to play a leading role in European security.However,in order to effectively assume the role of European security guarantor,Germany still needs to deal with the sustainability of its defense spending and capabilities as well as its strategic cultural adjustments,resolve the differences between Eastern and Western European countries in the EU on whom to rely on for security,and balance the relationship between independent European defense and NATO's security guarantees.
Germany"Zeitenwende"German security and defense policyRussia-Ukraine conflictEuropean security landscape
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