
A. Sindeev, Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, 11-3â, Mohovaya Str., Moscow, 125993, Russian Federation; Institute of General History, Russian Academy of Sciences, 32 À, Leninskii Prosp., Moscow, 119334, Russian Federation (a_sin74@mail.ru).
Abstract. The article examines the state of the Bundeswehr reform in the context of the European Security and Defence Policy. The emphasis is laid on the process of major decisions preparation, problems to be solved in the course of the reform, the state of the Bundeswehr, the role of a subjective facilitation, and on the approaches of three German Ministers of Defence. According to the article, the Bundeswehr is being transformed into an offensive army. It will be active outside Germany, and is gradually changing its essence as a parliamentary army. The reform was prepared gradually and imperceptibly to the public. In 2010, the Weise-Commission presented the reform proposals. The new Defence Minister De Maizière left these proposals unchanged. His merit was a good management of the reform. The scandal with the Euro Hawk forced him to resign. As the next Minister Von der Leyen was new to the Ministry of Defence, the reform of the Bundeswehr stopped. Germany will have to realize a dual strategy: à) to strengthen the military cooperation in the EU and NÀÒÎ; b) to maintain the own strength before the emergence of the EU security and defence structures and mechanisms.
Keywords: Bundeswehr, European army, European defence and security policy, Zu Guttenberg, De Maizière, Von der Leyen
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