BERLIN/BRUSSELS (Own report) – German foreign policy experts are calling for a “renaissance” of the transatlantic alliance to defend Western global hegemony. According to the strategy paper written by two German authors, published recently by the think tank of the European People’s Party (EPP), the EU must strengthen its cooperation with the United States in spite of certain controversies. The experts write that the “global liberal order,” which had secured a global hegemony for Western countries since the end of the Cold War, can only be maintained if Europe and North America enhance their economic, political, and military cooperation. All efforts aimed at improving cooperation with Russia should be halted. To enhance influence, the focus should, instead, be shifted to engaging NGOs and East European religious communities in pro-western activities. A new consensus within the EU must be established and pro-Russian “disinformation” must be systematically “exposed.” One of the authors even calls for the nuclear rearmament of Europe, claiming “we” must be “willing to go to war.”
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Against Moscow
Hence, the strategy paper particularly underlines proposals for concrete measures in confrontation with Russia. All attempts to enhance cooperation with Moscow must be halted, not least in view of Germany’s efforts – particularly in the first decade of 2000 – to strengthen its own position in relation to the USA by a certain degree of cooperation with Russia. (german-foreign-policy.com reported.[3]) To reduce dependence on Russian energy supplies, the authors call for increasing oil and natural gas deliveries from Western sources – particularly the USA – as well as comprehensive exploitation of shale gas within the EU. The EU should also enhance cooperation with Russia’s immediate neighbors, particularly Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, which are accessible to becoming an associate of the EU. The EU should not only provide economic assistance, but military aid as well, to reinforce their ties to the West.
NGOs and Churches
The authors also propose various measures aimed at Russia and its East European allies (for example Belarus). In the future, “Eastern Partnership” [4] should “focus much more on civil society.” The EU must work more intensively “with NGOs, political organizations, independent media and other civil society actors” and “religious communities,” in Eastern Europe.[5] New forces, “truly interested in [pro-western, gfp.com] transformation,” could be groomed “only through intensive ties to operatives among the elite, who are not directly involved in state activities.” This would strengthen the German use of organizations, such as party-affiliated foundations, to obtain influence in certain circles of foreign populations and draw them into the service of German foreign policy.
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Ready to Go to War
The authors are also pleading for extensive war preparations. EU member countries’ territorial defense capacities and NATO’s ability to intervene beyond its borders should be enhanced. Besides creating new structures, such as the ‘spearhead’ rapid response force,[7] NATO should begin “permanent redeployments of units, including ground troops closer to the eastern border of the alliance.”[8] This would be a complete breach of the NATO-Russia Founding Act and be considered by Moscow as a serious provocation. The risk of an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict would be significantly increased – an acceptable risk, according to co-author Roland Freudenstein. At a meeting of the European People’s Party (EPP) a few days ago, Freudenstein declared, “we have to make clear that yes, we are willing to go to war, for what we consider existential principles of Europe’s future.” However, the disadvantage is that “nuclear deterrence by NATO consists of 20 rusting free-fall bombs, of the B-61 type, that can be wiped out with one strike of the Russian forces,” and Freudenstein added, “these are things we have to change.”[9]
Global Geopolitics 