Russia in the context of German security policy

Abstract

The goal of the present paper is to identify the basic approach to Russia in the German security policy. The author focuses on the impact of the Ukrainian crisis on the FRG security policy. The events and processes are examined from the point of basic national security interests of current Germany. Main sources are conceptual documents and statements of leading politicians. Particular decisions of the German government are also analyzed. The author comes to a conclusion that Russia is considered in Germany primarily as a security threat; a “strategy of double-track decisions” is implemented, combining containment and dialog. It means a partial recovery to NATO concepts from the late period of the Cold War. German politician attach greater importance to the European security issues again. Germany is strengthening its military capabilities and reinforcing the development of the defense and security structures of the EU and NATO. Ukrainian crisis strongly influenced the German security policy along with other long-term factors, such as the need for a greater German role in world politics and closer EU security and defense integration.