A turning point in Germany. The EU is coming together in a unity rarely seen before. NATO shows its teeth. Putin's invasion of Ukraine is changing Europe. Everything suddenly has to be rethought and aligned with new realities. Economic policy, energy policy, security policy.
In Ukraine - as in Georgia and Syria - Putin's soldiers have not been given the opportunity for heroic deeds, not for glory and honour on the battlefield. Soldierly virtues no longer apply where war is waged against cities and civilians, where war crimes become a strategy. Where a far superior NATO has to stand by and watch, because the consequences of intervention could foreseeably lead to an even greater catastrophe. Suddenly, after 31 years, the fear of nuclear war is back. Whatever a new European security architecture post bellum will look like, the peace dividend of the nineties and noughties has been used up. You have to be able to "fight in order not to have to fight". Deterrence must be credible. This also and especially applies to nuclear deterrence. A clear commitment to nuclear sharing is also part of the German turnaround package.
Access?
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Hello Mr Uhl,
You could give the short answer to the questions you have raised: you are so right.
Reflection then quickly leads to further developments and new questions.
The CONMAROPS once existed for the defence of the Atlantic supply highway (endurance). Who of our young staff officers still knows this? The book by former Navy Secretary John Lehmann describes the background in his book "Oceans Ventured. Winning the Cold War at Sea" is very impressive and comprehensible. Do the NATO member states still have a common understanding of this today?
Let's go to the national level. Here, our naval inspectors Feldt, Schimpf and Krause, as participants in the biennial National Maritime Conferences, have tried in vain to discuss maritime security in its current meaning.
If Schleswig-Holstein now wants to build a floating terminal for unloading LNG in Brunsbüttel by 2023, who is thinking about its safety as critical infrastructure?
Unfortunately, this catalogue of questions could go on and on.
Does your commentary help to shake up the economy and politics?
I hope so for the sake of our country and its maritime security.