Frigate heading for the Indo-Pacific?

Now the time has come: Berlin has decided to bring the Indo-Pacific Guidelines adopted in September to life. In the foreword, Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas states: "As a globally active trading nation and advocate of a rules-based international order, Germany cannot content itself with a bystander role in the face of this dynamic development. We have an excellent reputation in many areas of bilateral cooperation and address important issues such as climate and environmental protection, renewable energies and vocational training. Germany maintains strategic partnerships with a number of countries in the region with a large overlap of common interests."
In addition, "Germany must engage even more closely with the existential security concerns of its proven partners, participate in the formulation of answers and make concrete contributions - by sharing experience and expertise, through responsible arms export controls that also take into account the strategic quality of relations with the countries in the region, through arms control policy initiatives, but also through participation in exercises and collective security measures to protect the rules-based order in implementation of United Nations resolutions."
It has been announced that a German frigate is to set sail for Australia in autumn 2021 and will also patrol around the Korean peninsula on the way. Visits to Singapore and Japan are also conceivable. The return is planned for February 2022. Defence Minister Annegret Kamp-Karrenbauer had a virtual exchange with both defence ministers in December 2020. Sidney, Singapore and Tokyo had responded positively to the German guidelines and the course set out therein. The return route should lead through the South China Sea.
Such a voyage was already planned for 2020. The frigate Hamburgwas already ready for sea. Corona thwarted the plans. The voyage at the time was scheduled for five months from May 2020. A similar duration can now be assumed. During the passage of the Horn of Africa (on the outward or return journey), the unit could either take part in the EU's Atalanta anti-piracy mission or the European Maritime Security Assistance Mission (maritime awareness in the Strait of Hormuz, EMASOH. Germany participates in the latter politically, but is conspicuous by its absence on the surface or in the air. In the Western Pacific, there are opportunities for joint exercises with the navies of the neighbouring states as well as with the US Pacific Fleet. The available publications state that the return route leads through the South China Sea. This is significant, as China regards this sea area as its own territorial sea and criticises ship movements by foreign navies, including those of the littoral states. Passages through the Taiwan Strait, in particular, are a constant source of displeasure for Beijing. On the other hand, passages in the international sea area (freedom of navigation) is an indispensable element of our rules-based order, and Germany renews its commitment to upholding it in the Indo-Pacific Guidelines.
According to reports, there was an increased need for coordination within the governing coalition regarding the general intention and the itinerary. According to a report by Business Insider on 18 February 2021, the Chancellery, Federal Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence agreed on the deployment of a naval unit, which was still controversial in January. In an interview with the German newspaper "taz" (7 January 2021), SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich thought it was wrong for Germany to get involved in the "highly dangerous conflict" in the South China Sea. There were probably still disagreements about the route until the end. Business Insider: "According to this, the Chancellery is considering including a stop in China during the fleet's visit - out of concern, otherwise annoy the People's Republic. The Ministry of Defence rejects this, and the Federal Foreign Office is also sceptical."
The company will be a challenge for the affected unit. This is because the crew will have to go into corona-related quarantine before departure. It is also questionable what the harbour stays will be like. The frigate Brandenburg returned to Wilhelmshaven on 6 February 2021 after monitoring the sea area between Turkey and Greece as part of Standing Nato Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) together with other Nato units. She was deployed for a total of 166 days - without going ashore.

Text: Hans-Uwe Mergener; Photo: Bundeswehr/Marcus Mohr