{"id":57894,"date":"2020-02-24T14:00:18","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T14:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/24\/germanys-to-do-list-a-spring-of-indecisions-is-brewing-in-berlin\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:21:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:21:49","slug":"germanys-to-do-list-a-spring-of-indecisions-is-brewing-in-berlin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/smr\/munich-security-conference\/2020\/02\/24\/germanys-to-do-list-a-spring-of-indecisions-is-brewing-in-berlin\/","title":{"rendered":"Germany\u2019s to-do list: A spring of (in)decisions is brewing in Berlin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MUNICH \u2014 As the European Union wrestles to assert its role in world affairs, its members are increasingly looking to Germany and France. But the two allies have yet to find their groove when it comes to weapons cooperation and joint operations. The recent Munich Security Conference added new assignments to Germany\u2019s to-do list, taking the already immense expectations of Berlin to a new level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials are slated to announce key program decisions this spring that could redefine the trans-Atlantic relationship on a political and industrial level. The government also wants to put teeth to the promise of an operational role together with France by initiating a naval protection mission in the Strait of Hormuz under an EU flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Germany is famously sheepish on defense matters, its coalition-government parties CDU and SPD are far apart on key strategic questions, and Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer oversaw an intra-party struggle that some in Germany say left her weakened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s a look at some of the key items in Germany&#8217;s portfolio:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>R\u00e9pondez s&#8217;il vous pla\u00eet<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking at Munich, French President Emmanuel Macron once again offered French nuclear weapons in the context of protecting EU members, now that the U.K. is leaving the bloc. He largely repeated his points from an earlier speech in Paris, which amounted to an overture to European allies to discuss the issue further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">German officials appeared unsure about the whole idea, even though Munich Security Conference emcee Wolfgang Ischinger flagged the proposal as an open invitation that requires a formal response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked about the idea, Kramp-Karrenbauer stressed Germany\u2019s dependence on the NATO nuclear umbrella, which is underwritten by the U.S. arsenal. Since Macron has ruled out putting his country\u2019s atomic weapons under some kind of EU authority, what exactly is on the table, she wondered. For example, does the proposal imply some kind of European nuclear industry \u2014 a no-go for Germany?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3422\" height=\"2281\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1164453803.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-43834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1164453803.jpg.jpg 3422w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1164453803.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1164453803.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1164453803.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1164453803.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1164453803.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3422px) 100vw, 3422px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer visits the 37th Armored Infantry Brigade (Panzergrenadierbrigade 37) in Frankenberg on Aug. 27, 2019, near Freiberg, Germany. (Photo by Jens Schlueter\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe must have the conversation,\u201d Kramp-Karrenbauer said. \u201cBut I can\u2019t imagine coming to a decision that would have us leave the American umbrella only to slip under a French one that is much smaller.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Creative law<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Germany previously punted on a Strait of Hormuz naval protection mission to protect cargo ships against Iranian harassment, but Berlin wants to try again. Doing it with the Americans is off the the table because Europeans are spooked by Washington\u2019s \u201cmaximum pressure\u201d campaign, so a strictly European mission would be ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And since the French and the Dutch already have sent ships to patrol the crucial waterway under their own moniker, why not expand that mission into an EU-led affair? Putting the mission under the auspices of the European Union would require \u201cbetter use\u201d of permissions granted in the bloc\u2019s founding legal texts, Kramp-Karrenbauer told the Munich conference audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to a German Defence Ministry spokesman, that\u2019s a reference to Article 44 of the Treaty on European Union. The section says the European Council can authorize a group of countries to carry out certain missions if they have the desire and wherewithal to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Low-rez-steno.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49736\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Low-rez-steno.jpg.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Low-rez-steno.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Low-rez-steno.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this July 21, 2019 photo, a speedboat from Iran&#8217;s Revolutionary Guard trains a weapon on the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, which was seized in the Strait of Hormuz.  (Morteza Akhoondi\/Tasnim News Agency via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for the wherewithal, Kramp-Karrenbauer left open exactly what types of assets the German Navy would be able to contribute to a Strait of Hormuz mission. The timing also remains murky. While the minister mentioned the need for an EU summit on the topic, her spokesman said there was no information yet about when such a gathering could happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Issue experts have said protecting global shipping lanes should be considered low-hanging fruit for Germany, as the mission is inherently defensive in nature. \u201cIt&#8217;s the mission that Germany should have chosen months ago,\u201d said Jeffrey Rathke, president of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies at Johns Hopkins University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Tornado warning<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Replacing Germany\u2019s fleet of aging Tornado aircraft is a can of worms like no other. That\u2019s because a portion of the fleet is assigned to carry American nuclear-tipped gravity bombs into Russia in the event of a major war. Though largely symbolic, the idea of German pilots using German aircraft to deliver American nukes is something of a quiet cornerstone of trans-Atlantic relations. People here don\u2019t like to talk about it much, but the effect is significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Tornado aircraft are getting old, which means the nuclear weapons will soon need a new ride. And this is where things get even trickier: Each of the replacement candidates can satisfy one requirement of Berlin\u2019s decision-making calculus, but not all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Boeing\u2019s F-18 fighter jet would represent a political commitment to the United States as the guarantor of nuclear deterrence. In such a scenario, the Pentagon presumably would lean forward to quickly sort out the requisite modifications and certifications, which is no small matter when it comes to nuclear weapons employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Airbus-made Eurofighter, on the other hand, would dovetail with plans by Germany and France to build the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/global\/europe\/2020\/02\/21\/french-german-fighter-program-cleared-for-technology-demos\/\" target=_blank>Future Combat Air System<\/a> \u2014 and prop up local industry at the same time. Airbus said it would consider a pick of the F-18 as a death knell for the futuristic program, a view that France is reportedly also pushing behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, there is the question of the U.S. government\u2019s willingness to approve a European aircraft for the most sensitive of missions, especially when the Trump administration already feels cheated by the continent on defense and trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, once in the running, is not expected to make a return to the competition, the German Defence Ministry spokeswoman told Defense News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kramp-Karrenbauer said she will decide by the end of March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking at Munich, she also hinted at a new round of fundamental discussions about the nuclear-sharing mission in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat is the political dimension of the decision that we have to debate within the coalition,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to have that debate relatively quickly, as we need clarity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Three strikes?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cTaktisches Luftverteidigungssystem,\u201d or TLVS, is one of those German word creations that sounds as complicated as it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The program would replace the venerable Patriot anti-missile system that\u2019s been in service for decades. Made by Lockheed Martin and its German junior partner MBDA, it boasts several new features, like 360-degree radar, interceptor coverage and open-data architecture. Crucially, Berlin wants complete control over all system components, as opposed to simply buying something akin to a license for using American-made gear, which is how many weapon sales work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While officials had been gung-ho about the program, things have gone quiet since last December, when the government disclosed that contract negotiations over the industry consortium\u2019s second offer weren\u2019t going as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time, the plan was to conclude talks by the end of the year, though that didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of earlier this month, the talks were still ongoing, according to the defense spokeswoman. \u201cThe negotiations are on a good track,\u201d she told Defense News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once considered a must-have project by Berlin, TLVS\u2019 future may now look iffy, especially given there is talk of yet another, third offer to be solicited from the vendor team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Officials are slated to announce key program decisions this spring that could redefine the trans-Atlantic relationship on a political and industrial level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":119,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[160,46,11,36,30,119],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3425],"class_list":["post-57894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-europe","category-global","category-newsletters","category-smr","category-munich-security-conference"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"2X3N5M67AFEUVKL3WXC2RK7VPA","arc_canonical_url":"\/smr\/munich-security-conference\/2020\/02\/24\/germanys-to-do-list-a-spring-of-indecisions-is-brewing-in-berlin\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Germany\u2019s to-do list: A spring of (in)decisions is brewing in Berlin - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Officials are slated to announce key program decisions this spring that could redefine the trans-Atlantic relationship on a political and industrial level.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Germany\u2019s to-do list: A spring of (in)decisions is brewing in Berlin\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Officials are slated to announce key program decisions this spring that could redefine the trans-Atlantic relationship on a political and industrial level.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/smr\/munich-security-conference\/2020\/02\/24\/germanys-to-do-list-a-spring-of-indecisions-is-brewing-in-berlin\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Defense News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-02-24T14:00:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T00:21:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sebastian Sprenger\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sebastian Sprenger\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t          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