European Military Cooperation: Will Germany inch away from military restraint?

European Military Cooperation?

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made recent reference to Germany's new foreign policy approach, albeit in a rather hushed manner. In an interview published as a video podcast, Merkel spoke with a member of the Franco-German Youth Office first about the Elysee Treaty and then went on to praise a mission undertaken by German troops: "We supported the French Army in Mali by helping them refuel their aircraft." But then she got to her key point: "There's room for more cooperation."

For 25 years, a 6,000-troop strong German-French military brigade has trudged along, never being sent out in its entirety on a mission, despite pleas to do so from Paris. France has petitioned the German government for many years to provide assistance with military missions in Africa, in particular. But for just as long, Germany has refused - even in clear cases of humanitarian missions. At most, Berlin has sent a few paramedics or military trainers, as is the case now in Mali, or made supplies available.

The last four years have been particularly disappointing for France in terms of military collaboration. While Germany grew more and more economically powerful, the country has taken on less and less under Chancellor Merkel when it comes to foreign and security policy. Her previous foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, even spoke of "a culture of restraint" when it came to military missions and then-defense minister Thomas de Maiziere gruffly countered Paris' calls for more military engagement by saying Germany didn't need any lessons from its partners on that point.

"In France, those in foreign policy and security circles were asking themselves whether Germany is even still able and ready to form alliances," said Stefan Seidendorf of the German-French Institute (dfi) in Ludwigsburg.

It's only against this background that it becomes clear why so many commentators in both countries view
Merkel's comments on German-French cooperation as a turning point in Germany's foreign policy approach. Meanwhile, Germany's newly formed grand coalition government is positioning itself differently than its predecessor.

Read more: Will Germany inch away from military restraint? | Germany | DW.DE | 20.02.2014