Germany's new coalition agreement between SPD, the Greens and FDP is quite detailed and specific with 177 pages.
The long foreign policy chapter is appropriate called: "Germany's Responsibility for Europe and the World"
spd.de/fileadmin/Doku…
The long foreign policy chapter is appropriate called: "Germany's Responsibility for Europe and the World"
spd.de/fileadmin/Doku…
1. The US is not criticized but almost missing, mentioned 9 times, transatlantic 7 and NATO 11 times, while it is all about Europe, cited 254 times. Clearly, the Germans dare not rely upon the US any longer. Within the EU, two countries are praised, France and Poland.
2. The emphasis lies on values: democracy, peace, welfare, freedom, human rights, rule of law and multilateralism. But also on a "strategically sovereign EU." The coalition wants to develop and strengthen the EU in all conceivable regards.
3. The coalition wants a real common EU foreign, security, and defense policy and the establishment of a real EU foreign minister.
4. The coalition supports the EU accession process of the six West Balkan states and calls for the opening of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia shall be able to get closer to the EU through reforms, not very clear.
5. The coalition is fully committed to NATO and the transatlantic alliance. It fudges the spending target by calling for 3% of GDP to be spent on international actions (including 0.7% of GDP on development aid) in the long term.
6. "As long as nuclear arms play a role in NATO's strategic concept, Germany has in interest in participating in the strategic discussions and planning processes." The Greens have clearly not vetoed nuclear arms in Germany.
7. Nord Stream 2 is not mentioned in the agreement. The support for the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including both Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, and the maintenance of sanctions on Russia is strong.
8. "We emphatically criticize the extensive restrictions of civil and democratic freedoms and expect that the Russian government" gives the Russian civil society unhindered contacts with their German partners.
9. Similarly, "We stand on the side of the people in Belarus... The Russian involvement in favor of Lukashenko is unacceptable."
This is quite a clear and well considered policy line.
This is quite a clear and well considered policy line.
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