New German security strategy to boost domestic defence and co-ordination national interests abroad

News Snapshot:

Chancellor Olaf Scholz accepted an unusual present for his 65th birthday on Wednesday: instead of socks or cake the Berlin leader took delivery of a long-delayed comprehensive security strategy – post-war Germany’s first. The 76-page, richly-illustrated brochure formalises the ad hoc “Zeitenwende” policy shift – adopted after Russia invaded Ukraine last year – to boost German domestic defence, supply Kyiv with heavy arms and pivot away from Russian energy supplies. It also widens the definition of security policy and promises better co-ordination of how Germany pursues its national interests abroad. After months of ministerial wrangling between Berlin’s three coalition partners,...