GERMANYUkraine-Russia War Drives Major German Policy Changes

By Christoph Hasselbach

Published 1 March 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point in German politics. Many longstanding principles have been thrown overboard.

War has broken out in Europe again — and this has taken many people in Germany completely by surprise. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, especially the ruling parties have decided to change tack on several key policies.

Weapons Exports to Crisis Regions
Exporting German weapons to conflict areas was long a no-go,especially for the Greens, who are the second-largest party in the new coalition government. The Green Party has its roots in the peace movement of the 1980s.

The party has supported peace missions by Germany’s army, the Bundeswehr, but always advocated a very restrictive arms export policy. Now, following intense public pressure and similar promises from other countries, German weapons will be delivered to Ukraine after all, including 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 anti-aircraft missiles.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) told lawmakers in the federal parliament on Sunday that, despite all the restraint still required in arms export policy, Ukraine “must not be left defenseless to the aggressor who is bringing death and devastation to this country.”

In their coalition agreement, the center-left SPD, the Greens, and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) had agreed on a restrictive arms export policy that does not allow any weapons deliveries to crisis regions — and they held on to this stance in recent weeks. The coalition agreement also states that “exceptions can only be made in justified individual cases, which must be documented in a publicly transparent manner.”

Baerbock explained her U-turn in parliament on Sunday, saying: “Just a few weeks ago, I stood here and said on the subject of arms deliveries that a decision to make a 180-degree turn in foreign policy must be taken at the right moment and with full awareness. Now —  sad as it is — is the moment to do so.”

Upgrading the Bundeswehr
For decades, given the country’s history as an aggressor, anyone in Germany who advocated strengthening the Bundeswehr was quickly considered a warmonger. But now the military is to be upgraded, and massively so. The armed forces are to be brought up to speed with a special fund to the tune of 100 billion euros ($1.2 billion).

Military strategists are now discussing exactly where to invest. For example, they are considering the development of new tanks and combat aircraft together with European partners, especially France.