After an evacuation operation in the 1990s, the idea of building multifunctional support ships was raised. An idea that is finding supporters again today. A gloss. And once again a report on a famous Bavarian who wanted to improve the navy. Retired General Dr hc Klaus Dieter Naumann (*25 May 1939) served as...
Even 80 years after the end of the war, German waters still harbour masses of old munitions. But there is still no master plan for disposal. Over 1.6 million tonnes of conventional and chemical munitions are rusting at the bottom of the North and Baltic Seas - a legacy of two world wars and a time bomb in terms of both ecology and security policy. While Europe is...
For many years, we have been discussing the structures and necessary change processes in our defence industries, both before and after the "turnaround". This also concerned the maritime sector in particular: How should things proceed here? More or less state? National consolidation or European integration? More specialisation and niches or sticking to the claim...
1 The security policy problem situation Soon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic Sea also came under increased scrutiny. A tough, essentially security policy confrontation is once again dominating events in this part of Europe. This is being expressed in a variety of ways, with the recent increase in the number of high-profile but...
Status and developments in the Baltic states The Baltic Sea remains a troubled sea and is the focus of security and defence policy issues. Since the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in autumn 2022, the damage to Maritime Critical Infrastructure (MarKRITIS) in particular has brought the Baltic Sea into the public eye. Primarily submarine cables laid on the...
Europe's strategic interests in the Arctic "High North, low tension" was the motto until a few years ago. The Arctic seemed a remote and inaccessible place. However, progressive climate change, which is warming the Arctic four times faster than the rest of the planet, is opening up new potential and dangers. This means that the Arctic could...
The aim of deep precision strikes is to create an effect far into the enemy's hinterland. The German Navy does not currently have this capability - but such weapons could be retrofitted to the F 124 class. The term Deep Precision Strike (DPS) refers to the ability of armed forces to deliver precise...
After decades of neglect, the so-called GIUK gap in the North Atlantic is now receiving renewed security policy attention. And the navies are also turning their attention back to this strategically important region. The northern North Atlantic is an important transit area for transatlantic and global maritime traffic. It is also of considerable strategic importance as the main supply route for...
German shipping companies are concerned about the geopolitical and trade situation in the world. The President of the German Shipowners' Association (VDR), Gabi Bornheim, said at the beginning of the year that around 62 per cent of German exports and 60 per cent of imports are handled by sea and emphasised that without a strong, independent merchant shipping industry,...
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