[000:00:00;00] ah, this is due to the news ally from berlin in the midst of russia's war in europe. germany looks in work after 100 days in office. foreign minister and alina verba presents her plans to redesign germany's national security strategy, will have all the details on what it means for germany and the world.

ah, michael ok, thanks so much for joining us with the war in ukraine in its 4th week. now german foreign ministry and all in a bare bach is due to launch the process of finding a new security strategy for germany. bear bock is sent to speak at germany's, for in the office, from which you are seeing a live pictures right now. rushes invasion of ukraine has up ended policy across europe. germany has back tracked and what on decades of convention and decided to send weapons to ukraine. it's also boosting its defense spending by a massive a 100000000000 euros this year. and pledge to increase its annual defense budget to 2 percent of g d p. and we will dip into that that, that address as soon as bear bout takes to the podium. but in the meantime, d w chief international editor richard walker joins me in the studio with his

expertise on these issues. and i think we're going to talk to richard on the back end of this. the german foreign minister is now at the podium. let's listen in life . she would model mine as f, as in tom, one tangent gentleman, he will call you good morning colleagues. funding for the distance from belinda to lee key or the ukrainian border in about as far as the district from fled spoke to hi book a 10 hours car drive. a tenuous car drive that you would just drive and now it is a 10 hours car drive. that separates us from this one and he's, and i think nobody, none of us would have imagined a situation like this. we are witnessing a brutal war of aggression, a 10 hours car drove away from us in the midst of europe. it's real, it's close and it's terrible. i think what he's doing said fact when we in tried the establishment of

a national security strategy in our collision agreements. i think hardly any of us who are gathering here in this room and basically all across the globe could have imagined what is happening right now. the russian president attacks his neighbor runs out. he violates our peace order in europe. and he also via lay not soon our charter of the united nation is going to day our children are asking us at the breakfast table at the lunch table and at dinner when the war will come to germany as well. what nuclear arms actually are and all across the country, people are taking to the streets. they are protesting for peace and for freedom. and for security reasons. one is the ins, and we feel a sense of belonging that we haven't felt for a long time. my generation may be and had never felt anything like that, a longing for free for security. and that is

a deeply human feeling or also in that sense of a certain reassurance. mine's i'm, i'm for watch. we all stand up for the security of the freedom of our lives. and this is what our national security strategy is about. cry height or the security of the freedom of our lives. this security esynthier has 3 essential elements for 9 that are on separable. security means firstly the in veil ability of our lives, the protection for war and violence from acute concrete threat. secondly, security means to also protect the freedom of our life data. this is also something that we might not have even thought about in the past. the freedom of our lives. what does that mean? what does it mean to live in freedom? we are feeling this when we look to ukraine right now,

the courage of men and women defending their country. in their determination, we see what these people are defending, liam, and in doubt they are putting their own lives at risk on their fighting, defending democracy and their right to decide on a life in freedom themselves. the 3rd element is the security of our livelihoods and the basis of our lives. and we are seeing this in a terrible way right now in the cities that are being besieged right now, where war extinguishes livelihoods. there is no security but also there in and in all the places. and we know this from across the globe where the impacts of climate change, hunger and poverty, and also lack of prosperity for people. forces people into conflict and suffering. and there is no basis for a life in freedom and security, or the security of our lives, our peace and our freedom in

a democratic europe. that is what our national security strategy is about. dynamism via hi michelle defect and good don't accomplish, shouldn't look at and security from a perspective of the past. but from a future perspective, we're one to do this. we're self confident enrolled in a self critical manner. despite the difficult situation, we find ourselves in right now, we want to engaging this process with a different ministries with you or your colleagues from the german bonus tag from all political parties and the man, the national and international partners in a broad and interactive way. in an inclusive way, we are doing this because security policy is more than just the military plus diplomacy when investment into infrastructure and trade policy as part of our

security. that also means that decisions about our security are not only taken at the foreign office or the ministry of defendants, but also in companies, municipalities and universities. i, for me, this includes, is an inclusive process for our strategy. but it is also the core of what foreign policy means for me and this ministry. it is not only about an exchange between capitals, between ministers. it is also about exchange between people in this is about human security. it is about freedom, the freedom of each and every individual here and across the globe. and that also means that we not only need to build bridges and bring people together. it also means to think out of the box because life is real, being pragmatic is important. we should normally stick to legal tax fan. and that means for me and my,

and our all of us to understand the concerns and perspectives of others to clearly name dilemma. instead of just brushing over and be ready to put yourself into the shoes of the other, even if you don't share their positions at all for our set security strategy, it is true that in the light of rash, as massive breach of our peace order, we need to implement the principles that guide us even more clearly into practical politics, decisive for me are a clear stands, a stronger ability to act, an sharper tools for foreign and security policy concerning our stance rash as aggressive action clearly shows us that in questions of war and peace in questions of right and wrong, no cannon tree and also germany cannot be neutral. many things have been

written about germany's history and germany st. responsibility over the last few weeks. and let me be very clear here. yes. for me. from our history and german guild for war and genocide, results in a special responsibility. i feel this and that is the obligation to stand by those whose lives, whose freedom and whose rights are at stake. noise. yes, more. let me quote desmond tutu again at this point, if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the press am. this is true for how we're dealing with russia. it is also true for how we're dealing with other autocratic ridge, dig tater ships or regimes that call freedom and democracy and security into

question. and that bridge our international rules out. and i think in these very difficult days where we need to take decisions within only a few hours. we need to reflect again and again and make sure that we do not repeat the mistakes that have been made in the past. and get a feeling of deborah good or bad to dictatorships. no, we need to stand up for our values and our dance across the globe. and many of you are here in this room who have been doing this over years and decades. of course, we also need to talk to author retiring regimes, and those who do not share our position at all, speaking to others is as i is the core of diplomacy. but what is decisive is that we will not be silence that we're not just accept things because we are dependent economically, all in terms of energy inputs. but that will take a clear stands even if it's difficult,

even if we looked at difficult question. the question such as orland bog, with right now, taking a clear stands for the security of the freedom of our lives. in order to do that, we need to be able to act. this is my 2nd point. our strength is international unity. this is how we count her proteins are nation right now, and we're doing this together as the you, we have acted in unison with determination. even if you're a quarreling endlessly about many other things. we have reacted with the harshest sanctions also as the g 7 and as nato and together with many other countries across the globe because rush us attack on ukraine is a geopolitical turning point with deep impact on european security. the european union county is formulating for the 1st time, an extensive security policy strategy. and the initiative goes back to germany.

when you've got this strategic come past that is on the table right now. and of course, because is being adapted all will and has to reflect the new realities on our continent at the same time. and this is also reflected in the strategy in the strategic comp has at the same time, this war shows once more that the security of europe depends on nato's collective defense. yes, i think is the strategic home pass therefore, should gear the use of security and defense policy in a complimentary way to nato and therefore strengthen the european pillar of the trans atlantic alliance and expanded their share. this means that we also need to strengthen the european defense industry, not only in order to do just more spend more money, but in order to become more effective,

that you alone has flex time 6 times as many different weapon systems as the u. s. and we need to overcome this fragmentation with more, you does not mean less in the trans atlantic alliance in terms of security policy, which is war of aggression clearly illustrates that we need to develop a future vision of collective defense. our allies demand that we as europe's biggest economy, take a leadership role here. my lawyer, nato will adopt a new strategic coming up this summer. they had the state of government will adopted at the end of june in madrid. and we know that today, and we're discussing it right now that the current or former trip, why a logic establishing minimum presence is in the baltic states and poland signaling that an attack on an h o country would be an attack on every body. this logic is no

longer sufficient. we therefore need to sustainably expand the reinforcements we have undertaken over the last weeks, our military exercise, it needs new to reflect new realities. and we need to factor in that the, in the east and flank of the alliance is not under a new threat. so we need more natural presences in slab, se, and european countries, germany will make a substantial contribution to that in so lock him up. and another thing has been clearly shown by this war, nuclear deterrent of nature, must remain credible. this is why the federal government has decided to procure f, 35 fighter jets, but it is still true. our goal remains a world free of nuclear weapons. and this goal is something we will and one to discuss with our partners in the framework of the non proliferation treaty. but

also as an observer with the member states of the treaty and the prohibition yoko arms. i would like us to have an honest debate about how we can create the pre conditions for disarmament steps. and this cannot be done with unilateral demands to our western allies. real steps towards design them. and you will only happen when all nuclear states undertake credible steps and all that is actually and also, i mean, this is a terrible thing about the current situation. we also know that putin is doing the exact opposite by threatening others with the use of nuclear bombs. but still not, it is clear that we are guided by international law. this is a position of strength and it is clear for us and the national security strategy will take this up. disarmament and arms control will remain

a central pillar of our security. we need to think disarmament and arms control in a complementary as a complimentary element to deterrence and defense. and that means the ability to fight to defend oneself in the alliance list is decisive for our ability to act. for me, the ability to defend oneself means both the ability and the will to defend oneself . and i am aware of that the fact that for many people in germany, many in this room and i would also not a flip myself from that group. this notion has long been not only an easy term, but i am convinced that our ability to defend ourselves will be decisive for our security. our security for the freedom of our lives, with a special fund for our ability, a defense capabilities. we have taken an important step in order to modernize our armed forces faster,

providing them with full equipment and also strengthening our collective defense capabilities. and that's important because it is good that we are up to date when it comes to defending ourselves and not looking at the last century. so question such a fiber but also stabilization support our of crucial importance. we need to think our security for at the future. this is why we need a new security strategy. so our national security strategy will look at central strategic construction sides if you will, that we have not discussed sufficiently in the political sphere in europe. i think we are seeing now that the strategic debates of the past i had to wit, defend our security far away from here in afghanistan, rails, we're older, we defend our security on our doorstep. this is no longer the situation in our

interconnected world. it is not either or it's both. we are defending our security both here on our doorstep, a 10 i was caught, drive away from here just as we're defending it in the interconnected world. and we're seeing this here at home. but we've also seen it over the last few years that in a digital in it, it lies. well. there are threats from the inside and outside and the lines are blurred. we also have separating lines in friend our constitution, and i think we need to look at this. i think nobody in this room has a definite answer to that. but how do we deal with these old m separating lines in the future with the mountain road initiative? rules, so see that investment and infrastructure have a security relevance as well. yet we defined a european sovereignty where we make it very clear that we need to cooperate whenever possible and that we are independent whenever necessary. but you can only

be independent if you're not fully dependent on others. and we see this not only hearing europe, but we also see it across the globe in africa, and also in the indoor pacific region. if we look at the country is in which china has made massive investments in electricity supply questions of sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law law of utmost agency. so over the coming funds, we will not only develop a new national security strategy, but also in your china strategy. ladies and gentlemen, being able to act means that we have strong alliances that were able to defend ourselves. being able to act also means not being dependent, all black male, a bull in one's economic relations and energy import relations. and this is

also exacerbated and clearly shown by this war. many of us here in this room have o clock signaled again and again that energy supply is also a question of security 8 years ago. almost up to those moment, put in an ex crimea breeching international lawyer. and many things that we're discussing today should have been discussed 80 years ago, and some members of the european parliament are here today. we had discussions in the european parliament about unbundling and energy security, energy efficiency. and it's important this interaction of energy, climate and economic questions is intense. and we had these discussions with us. but the tragic thing is we knew it, but then it just humbled away. and it is not important to look

at who knew what in the past. it is important to get it right now. and this is why it is so important that the federal ministry of economics and energy is doing everything. it can at full speed to make us independent from fossil fuel imports, especially coming from russia, but not also not moving into a dependency on other countries. but that we develop a sovereignty in terms of energy supply. also knowing that we will also have to import green energy sources, but we need to move away from fossil energy sources and move faster towards efficient renewable energy sources. this is not only investment in clean energy, it is also investments into our security and our freedom as well damage. and ladies and gentlemen, let me also highlight here that this brings me to the security question of our

times the climate crisis. and not in a competition to the challenges posed by a war and peace. but in interaction, this is a huge challenge on the basis for the security of our lives can only be granted if we stop climate change. and if we get a grip on the climate crisis, not stopping climate change, we cannot stop global warming. we already have global warming of more than one degree. so it is not about mitigation, only. it is about security questions and jennifer morgan and many others in this ministry. how working on with the other ministries to get that it is about adaptation loss and damage, and the most vulnerable states in order to provide a safe future for them. in the light off this global warming that's happening. and

as we'll see how the climate crisis undermined security invulnerable states, this is something we see globally, but we especially see it in the health region where extreme weather events and food insecurity and migration i exacerbating crises between states. and it is not a coincidence that the hottest and organized crime use this fragility as a gateway to impose their power, their hate against people. what, what and threat a threatening, not only security there, but also here in europe. this is why climate diplomacy is an integral part of our security strategy. every tongue, last, c o 2, every 10th of a degree less in global warming. if a contribution to human security that means that we need to

face up to our economic dependencies. we've seen the principle of the more economic links, the better for a long time. now we are seeing that too much of a unilateral economic focus makes us vulnerable and we see those not only with a view to russia. so when we talk about connectivity and dependency, we need to think these things together. it's not trade policy over there and infrastructure policy here. and then we'll, we'll so far and insecurity policy, someone know, all of this. one needs to go hand in hand, vulnerability in the 21st century can also mean authoritarian states investing billions of euros in european motor brazen at st. electricity grids and port. this is why we are about strengthening together in the federal government and national security strategy. this is why we're strengthening our foreign trade tools. this is

the core of our values driven foreign policy of allister and foreign policy means at the same time defending values and interests, also economic interest. i mean, because guns and they are intertwined. good job i didn't find and that brings me to my 3rd point out for an insecurity policy tools. then is it because it is the shy one for title? the security does not only mean a military means american. if i don't want, it will not go by when we, if we're one to prevail in the competition of the 21st century, we need to have our tools meeting the challenges of the time military, political, analog, digital technology wise. and we need to develop a comprehensive understanding of security without being blurred and do stuff on about stands that i am deeply convinced that our broad german engagement across the

globe of a last the last years and decades, i think be a diplomacy crisis prevention for cultural and education policy, sport development corporation. oh, once i think i'm making a decisive contribution to our own security. because we as jeremy, are being you have not recognized across the globe. we are seen in this diversity and we saw this over the last few days. other countries weren't quite sure how to position themselves, and we were able to convince them to take a clear stand. because we said this is about our european piece. older it is about international law. but not only it is also much. i mean, you often saw who of an update we have, we have been successful because we are able to self criticism. we have gained trust, not everywhere, but in many places,

due to our diplomatic efforts and to listening to others in the past. and this is the dividend of a comprehensive multilateral german foreign policy. and i think all of us and me personally to as a new drummond, foreign minister, we are grateful for that. and that is also at the mission that we have, not forgetting this strengthening this fairly, expanding this diplomacy, cultural work at your cation sports, crisis mediation. this is an engagement that is a long term commitment. you won't see successes soon overnight. these are investments in our own security to, in all of our security as complex as the crisis are as complex i was just need to be doing my see if we have massive ra, a disruptions in supply chains. and this will be the case because your crane can no longer export and crops and other goods to countries in africa. and

the reality will be that people are threatened with hunger, they my side, you stop. and that about even creates new risks for conflicts and also wrong narrative. you get. this is why we need to act in this acute situation, but also with our national security strategy. we need to have a broad toolbox with diplomacy, piece, support stabilization, economic corporation and financial and substantial support for countries not, not an organ and international organizations. what about he again? but it is also true in this regard. more and more and more is not always the best thing to do. we need to ask ourselves the honest question, how effective our means are and what they really contribute to stabilizing regions and around security. i think all of us can say that the water pot principal is not the most efficient method, no images, and vice versa. if, as a new minister,

you don't really know what other ministries in your country are supporting and not doing it is not a coincidence. it also shows how strong god, oh, we can be if we cooperate more economic energy policy, foreign policy. this needs to be coordinated and wave in trying this in the coalition agreement as a coherent foreign policy. but this will also be at the core of this security strategy. our financial support must be coordinated and must not be in competition to one, not the ladies and gentlemen complex. i'm just are needed for complex questions. i've mentioned this in the beginning, the biggest challenge, both out really be the cyberspace issue that side because we're seeing that cyber is a, an antique. we're a part of modern warfare. we are also seeing that conventional warfare that we

thought was obsolete. time is coming back as being used, but the big challenge is seeing both hybrid wolfram cyber warfare as to the problem and the spillover effect this can have it can be seen. but this is only the tip of the iceberg. we are seeing on the activists who could exacerbate this conflict, why you don't even know who is the actor formally. this could have been an attack on a gas pipeline. and today we're seeing hacks on hospitals, water to make it very difficult. infection takes different places and now 16 federal states who is responsible the bonus, where the federal criminal law face all the 6 different federal states. because we don't know whether this a coincidence or