In recent weeks, with a view to the federal election, it has often been written that it is high time Germany adjusted to the changes in power politics in the world. Expectations have been expressed that Berlin will have to take on more of the "leadership for a Europe with global shaping power"; that German security policy is “mentally and materially strengthened”; that Germany stays on the ball in the Indo-Pacific region. The expectations are high; no less than in the past ten years, when its partners asked Germany to take on more responsibility. The leading German politicians of the Merkel era reaffirmed their willingness to do so on many occasions. One still remembers the appearances of the Federal President,Defense Minister and Foreign Minister at the Munich Security Conference 2014. At least in part it was not just a matter of words.

Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger

Editor in politics.

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On the other hand, the criticism always resonates that Germany has only slowly, even insufficiently, adjusted to the new conditions, whether it is Europe (after Brexit), America or China.

It is astonishing that German foreign policy is content to box in a low weight class.

The criticism thus ranges from the basic to the operational.

Does the future federal government, the first after Merkel, have to reposition itself in terms of foreign policy (what it will do in terms of management staff)?

Let's ask a foreign politician from the Greens, a party that could be interested in the Foreign Office if a new coalition is formed: Does Germany need a new foreign policy, Mr Nouripour?

"There was a lack of ambition"

Omid Nouripour, who has just won a direct mandate for the Greens in Frankfurt am Main, answers briefly with yes. He recalls an initiative by the then Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier that German foreign policy had to become faster and more substantial. "If you look at the events of the past few years, you have to realize that this approach, as right as it was, has not been fulfilled." Nouripour cites Iraq as an example, which is of great importance in the fight against jihadism. The German embassy in Baghdad actually has three half-posts for it. “How should one exert political influence over a country?” Then it becomes more fundamental: the “level of ambition” is insufficient; There has been a lack of ambition in recent years. That's a problem,because Germany is not just any country in Europe, but because it is one of the largest and most important countries in the EU: “The Germans have a responsibility to keep Europe together. We have to do a lot more and we can do more there. "

As with the topic of the military and the armed forces?

Nouripour is not a supporter of NATO's two percent target, especially not because “we have inefficient procurement structures and huge, untapped potential for European cooperation”.

Far too often money is burned in procurement: "More money that is burned does not create more security." It is correct to spend more money on members of the Bundeswehr;

In addition, efficiency would have to be increased and European cooperation expanded.

However, he does admit that the armed forces' financial resources are of key importance.

“The question of money is extremely important.

My concern is that we do not see the defense budget as an instrument of industrial policy, but that we spend the money in a targeted manner. "