The Atlantic Initiative held a public event in Berlin in cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation on The Cost of Peace and Freedom: What is security worth to us today? The panel included a security expert and a member of the Bundestag’s budgetary and defense committees. Panelists discussed Germany’s role in global defense alliances in light of the Ukraine crisis and security issues in the Middle East and Africa.
To discuss Germany’s role in today’s European and global security agenda, a panel of experts spoke about Germany’s defense spending and the country’s role in global defense alliances in front of an audience of about 80 attendees. The discussion began following an opening statement by Gregor Enste of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Dr. Johannes Bohnen of Atlantic Initiative. Panelists included Dr. Reinhard Brandl, a member of governing party in the Bundestag CDU/CSU, and Dr. Christian Mölling, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP). The discussion was chaired by Dr. Jana Puglierin of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).
The panelists focused on three main issues: whether Germany needs to take on greater responsibilities in regional and global security in light of its relationship with its allies; whether Germany’s defense attitude regarding the situation in Libya was justified, and; whether development assistance is a better use of Germany’s funds than increased defense spending.