External Security : Germany

The principal aim of the Federal Republic of Germany’s security policy is to maintain peace and safeguard the country’s freedom and independence. “Maintain peace with fewer weapons” was the Federal Republic’s motto in helping to end the confrontation between East and West. Germany is playing an active role in shaping Europe’s new security relationships. New security structures are emerging.

The Member States of the European Union aim to establish a common foreign and security policy in which the Western European Union (WEU) plays a major role. The close political and military cooperation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is complemented by cooperation on security matters with the Central and Eastern European countries in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and within the framework of the program of the Partnership for Peace (PfP). Separate partnership agreements have been concluded with Russia and Ukraine. Through its involvement in disarmament and arms control, Germany is helping to further stability in Europe.

Prior to unification, Germany undertook by treaty to significantly reduce the size of its armed forces. With 340,000 soldiers, the Bundeswehr of united Germany is thus smaller than the armed forces of the old Federal Republic. Up to 1990 the Bundeswehr had a personnel strength of 490,000, while the National People’s Army (NVA) of the GDR had 1 70,000.

°n 3 October 1990, the day of German unity, the armed forces of the former GDR were disbanded. Some NVA servicemen, after first being given temporary contracts, were permanently incorporated into the Bundeswehr. On 31 August 1994 the withdrawal from eastern Germany of the 340,000 soldiers as well as 210,000 dependents and civilian personnel of the Soviet armed forces was completed. The United States and the other NATO countries with troops stationed in Germany are also reducing their military presence and, together with the Bundeswehr, are forming major multinational formations.

The Federal Republic of Germany still provides the largest contingent of conventional forces for NATO in Europe. The Bundeswehr is a purely defensive army. It has no weapons of mass destruction and does not want any. However, security precautions are still necessary.