Germany’s security is inseparably linked to the political development of Europe and the remainder of the world. The united Germany has an important part in shaping the future of Europe and beyond. As a member of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO), Germany has proven itself to be a reliable partner. In these international ventures, as well as in the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and other such forums, Germany has been working towards the preservation of peace, protection against global threats, promotion of democracy and human rights, sustainable development, and cooperative security.

Twelve years have passed since the publication of the last White Paper on the Security of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Situation of the Bundeswehr. During that time, the international environment has changed dramatically. Globalisation has opened up new opportunities for Germany, too. At the same time, the radical changes in the security environment have created new risks and threats that are not only having a destabilising effect on Germany’s immediate surroundings but also impact on the security of the international community as a whole. A successful response to these new challenges requires the application of a wide range of foreign, security, defence, and development policy instruments in order to identify, prevent, and resolve conflicts at an early stage. With its broad spectrum of capabilities, the Bundeswehr has been making significant contributions towards the achievement of this goal.

Douze années se sont écoulées depuis la publication du dernier « Livre blanc sur la sécurité de l’Allemagne et la situation de la Bundeswehr ». Depuis, l’environnement international a profondément évolué. La mondialisation ouvre de nouvelles perspectives, y compris pour l’Allemagne. Simultanément, la transformation fondamentale du contexte de sécurité comporte de nouveaux risques et menaces qui ont non seulement un effet déstabilisateur sur l’environnement immédiat de l’Allemagne mais affectent également la sécurité de la communauté internationale dans son ensemble. En matière de politique étrangère, de sécurité, de défense et de développement, la maîtrise de ces défis suppose la mise en oeuvre d’une vaste panoplie d’instruments susceptibles de déceler suffisamment tôt les indices de crise ainsi que de prévenir et de régler les conflits. Grâce à son éventail complet de capacités, la Bundeswehr y apporte une contribution essentielle.

As Germany seeks to play a greater role on the world stage, Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung said in an interview that Berlin would soon double, to 15,000, the number of troops trained for peacekeeping and other missions despite tough restrictions on the ministry's budget.

But what is coming out of Germany? What do we hear? Nothing! Nothing but deafening silence! It seems as though the political class is speechless before an American president who has adopted the liberal triad of political freedom, human rights and economic development as preventive medicine against all kinds of crises. Maybe the silence in Germany is personal.