German Bundestag, May 13, 2022, Plenarprotokoll 20/35, pp.
3333-3334.
Herr President. Valued colleagues.
Following these emotional themes, a more sober, political
theme. For years, no, for decades is discussed in professional circles in
Germany the theme of a lack of a national security policy comprehensive
strategy. In times of crisis, the theme briefly attains the attention of the
political parties and the media, and then again disappears from the discussion.
Up to today, the strategic reality was that Germany
out-sourced its energy policy to Moscow, its economic policy to Peking and its
security policy to Washington, and the rest for the most part will be decided
in Brussels. The German security policy thus for long is lacking in setting
long-term national security goals so as to do justice to the Basic Law’s
promises to the German citizens of peace, freedom, security and
prosperity.
Germany thus increasingly is no match for the present
challenges of a dramatically changing world order and an international
competition of systems becoming ever harsher. The origin of this is the lack of
a long-term, realistic, stringent national strategy free of ideology which clearly
and distinctly formulates German interests. It is thus to be fundamentally welcomed
that the Federal government has resolved in its first year in office to put
forward a national security strategy. Nevertheless, the Foreign Minister’s
estimate put forward in regards the initial event for the development of such a
national security strategy clearly falls short.
To work up a national security strategy, to critically and
continuously evaluate and update this in its entire breadth, and before all to
survey and to enforce its implementation, cannot be the responsibility of a
single department. This must unconditionally be the central point. The obvious
weak points of the crisis management in connection with the Ukraine war
emphatically underline this.
Domestic and foreign security policy developments already for
long no more allow themselves to be considered separately. Present and future
complex challenges can only be overcome when foreign, defense, domestic,
economic and energy policy dimensions are incorporated and applied to well
understood national interests.
Durable realpolitische
solutions and strategic security policy decisions require a far look forward as
well as clearly defined national security policy goals. If such a realpolitische interpretation [Durchdringung] of the world situation is
not put forward, the Federal government in the best case can react in the
short-term to critical events. We well enough know these passages by sight from
the last years. Mid- and long-term, this policy nonetheless leads to further
loss of freedom of action in foreign, security and economic policy and thereby
to an increasing dependency on other powers. With the utmost pain, we directly experience
this, especially in the failed energy policy in connection with the war in the
Ukraine and its consequences. Germany thus needs to be in the position to
prevent the threatening decline in the international concert and also to be
able to enforce its national interests which have to serve the welfare of the
citizens.
Against this background, we propose [Drucksache 20/1746] to comprehensively reconstruct the present
Federal Security Council into a standing, inter-departmental [Ressortübergreifenden] National Security
Council and with efficient and lean structures to build – not unconditionally
according to the American, rather according to the French and Japanese and yet
also to the Austrian model.
Roderich Kiesewetter (CDU/CSU): That is an interesting mix!
This National Security Council is formed together with, in a
broad sense of security, the relevant ministers and will be led by the
Chancellor. A National Security advisor, who is placed directly under the
Chancellor and whose staff is settled in the Chancellor’s Office, leads the
daily business of this National Security Council. For that, it also has access
to the relevant information, particularly to the respective central stores of
all affected departments.
With this toolbox [Instrumentarium],
the Federal government should be placed in the position to develop preventive
and long-term strategies into a German national comprehensive security strategy
and then to institutionalize and implement it. So as to democratically legitimate
this distinct strengthening of the Chancellor’s position in the executive, an
appropriate parliamentary control committee should be installed.
Valued colleagues, against the background of the increasing
insecurity and risks in the world, I ask you to queue the partisan political
considerations and vote for our motion.
Many thanks for your attention.
[trans: tem]
