BERLIN (own report) – Germany’s biggest arms manufacturers achieved fast growth in 2023, significantly above the global average. This finding emerges from the latest ranking of the world’s hundred largest defence companies, published yesterday (Monday) by the Stockholm-based research institute SIPRI. Only four German companies – Rheinmetall, ThyssenKrupp, Hensoldt and Diehl – can claim a place in the SIPRI ranking. But this is due to the way Germany’s defence industry has a marked pattern of small and medium-sized enterprises, the renowned Mittelstand. However, the biggest four German companies were able to increase their revenues by 7.5 per cent last year, while global growth of the top hundred as a whole stood only at 4.2 per cent. Rheinmetall and Diehl in particular owe their growth surge largely to their role as suppliers in the Ukraine war. The SIPRI ranking again confirms that the largest US arms manufacturers are far ahead, generating massive revenues equal to around a half of the total global sales recorded for the top one hundred in 2023. The analysis also reveals the emergence of a powerful Turkish arms industry as well as a strong growth trend among the West’s Asian partners in an anti-China alliance. Here, weapons makers in South Korea and Japan are setting new records. Read more

MANILA/WASHINGTON/BERLIN (own report) – The Philippines, a close military cooperation partner of Germany, is escalating the conflict with China both over Taiwan and over islands in the South China Sea. On November 8, Manila enacted two new laws stipulating the Philippines’ claims in the South China Sea. These overlap with those of China. However, Manila claims islands and maritime areas also claimed by Malaysia, from whose perspective, the Philippines could be considered the main troublemaker in the South China Sea, according to one expert, considering the fact that Manila is likewise claiming sovereignty over parts of the Malaysian state of Sabah. The USA has concluded an agreement with Manila for the exchange of secret military information and is elaborating plans to station state-of-the-art missiles on the Philippines and in Japan in the event of a crisis over Taiwan. This represents a direct threat to the People's Republic of China, similar to threat posed to the USA by Soviet missiles in Cuba. Germany is participating in this development by intensifying its military and arms cooperation with the Philippines. Read more

NIAMEY/BRUSSELS (own report) – Niger is defending itself against unauthorized EU activities on its sovereign territory and demanding the replacement of the EU ambassador to Niamey. This conflict was caused by the EU ambassador having distributed EU aid for victims of Niger’s devastating floods without Nigieren government authorization – even against its declared will. Following Niamey’s protests the EU has recalled its ambassador for consultations – probably in the hopes that Niger could feel dependent on this aid and concede in this dispute. This is not the case. Since the coup last year on July 26, Niger has been systematically freeing itself from its dependency, particularly on France, but also on other Western countries. Following the expulsion of Western armed forces – the Bundeswehr included – from its territory, it has been struggling to achieve economic independence and defending itself against intrigues by the French intelligence service. At a solidarity conference, last week, it was declared that they were “no longer taking orders from Paris” and finally deciding for themselves which political and economic development is good for their country. Read more

N’DJAMENA/BERLIN (own report) – Preventive refugee defense and the West’s major power struggle against Russia is inducing the German government to make new efforts to gain influence in Chad. Germany’s Development Minister Svenja Schulze left last Monday for that African country, harboring around 1.2 million refugees – mainly from Sudan. To prevent them from continuing their journey toward Europe, Schulze seeks to provide them with opportunities “for establishing a new livelihood” in Chad. “Chad did not build fences, but showed solidarity with the refugees,” praised the minister. Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world, and its east, where most of the refugees are located, is one of its poorest regions. Berlin is also seeking to gain influence in that country, because the government in N’Djamena – like a large number of other Sahel governments – is beginning to cooperate more closely with Russia. France, the traditionally dominant former colonial power in Chad, is now also facing growing pressure. Germany offers itself as an alternative cooperation partner for N’Djamena – like Hungary, which is expanding its development activities and seeking to send military to that country. Read more

BERLIN (own report) – In light of the looming new elections, the debate on increasing the German military budget is intensifying. German Economyics Minister Robert Habeck, is insisting on a new “Special Fund” being adopted before elections, reasoning that if the AfD and BSW win together a third of the seats in the next Bundestag, the necessary two-thirds majority can no longer be achieved. According to the Federal Audit Office, the “Special Funds,” which were first accorded in late February 2022, are in fact special debts. On the other hand, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, proposes the alternative of increasing the Bundeswehr’s budget up to 3.5 percent of Germany’s GDP. Currently, that would amount to more than €140 billion. In light of the fact that the demand for a massive arms buildup is usually justified by the need to gain ground on Russia’s military superiority, a new study published by Greenpeace points to the fact that NATO countries are already spending ten-times more on their military than Russia. According to Greenpeace NATO should use its conventional weaponry superiority to insist on disarmament. Read more

BERLIN/WASHINGTON (own report) – Germany’s leading foreign policy journal proposes comprehensive rearmament of Germany and the rest of Europe in favor of a vigorous militarization of the Asia-Pacific region. According to the magazine “Internationale Politik,” published by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), European states must rapidly build up their armed forces and take control not only of their own continent, but also “the Mediterranean, as well as the Red Sea and the Bab al Mandab Strait, if necessary” to “reduce the need for US troops in Europe.” If this succeeds, the United States would have sufficient military capacity available should “war break out in the Indo-Pacific.” European countries should also prepare for possible war against China by increasing their defense industrial capacities to replace spent US ammunition if necessary. Experts are noticing that even among the countries of the Asian-Pacific region, there is a growing shift away from the declining Western domination and a growing “Asianization” of their military relations. Read more

BERLIN (own report) - The German Bundestag is preparing a resolution against antisemitism which will be used as an instrument to take further repressive measures against those openly criticising the policies and actions of the Israeli government. The resolution, to be passed this week, is based on the controversial IHRA working definition of antisemitism. Adopted by the German government years ago, the German version of this definition has in practice enabled criticism of Israeli policies and Zionism to be defamed as “antisemitic”. Anyone who makes statements that can be considered antisemitic under this broad definition may have their state funding withdrawn, will be excluded from school lessons, and can be exmatriculated from university. The Bundestag is also in favour of banning organisations which, as things stand, could even affect Jewish organisations. It can also mean that government agencies would be have to stop cooperating with international human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, which has sharply attacked the Israeli government for flouting international law. Yet, at the same time as seeking to present itself as championing the fight against antisemitism, Berlin has refused to this day to compensate the descendants of Jewish victims of National Socialism. Read more

LAAYOUNE/RABAT/BRUSSELS (own report) - Several agreements made with Morocco by the EU are in breach of international law, not least because they amount to support for Rabat’s rule over Western Sahara, known as the last colony on the African continent. At the beginning of October, the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the EU's highest court, confirmed the breach in a judgement that declares the EU’s trade and fisheries agreements with Morocco unlawful. The problem is that agreements have been concluded with Morocco but also concern Western Sahara, a territory illegally occupied by Morocco, as the ECJ reiterates. The court establishes that the EU must conclude any agreements relating to Western Sahara with the legitimate representative body of the Sahrawi population, which is the Frente Polisario. The ECJ judgement follows rulings by the United Nations, which currently ascribes colonial status to Western Sahara. Brussels and Berlin simply say they have “taken note” of the legal position, while not taking any steps to comply with it. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen doubles down, announcing the EU’s desire to take the “profound friendship” with Morocco “to the next level”. So policymakers prioritise initiatives to block the flow of refugees and exploit renewable energy sources above compliance. Read more

BERLIN/BRUSSELS/DOHA (own report) - The Emirate of Qatar is considering a deal to supply Germany with green hydrogen, say sources in Doha on the occasion of the Emir of Qatar's visit to Berlin last Tuesday. Qatar’s importance as an exporter of liquefied natural gas to Germany is something the general public is well aware of. Lesser known are the plans the Emirate has for launching the production of green hydrogen, which it is looking to sell to Germany. The German government’s long-term hydrogen strategy, which was updated in 2023, foresees 50 to 70 per cent of the country’s hydrogen requirements being met through imports. The total capacity of electrolysers to be installed by 2030 will amount to 10 GW (gigawatt). This quantity will not even begin to cover the predicted demand. The German initiative Dii Desert Energy is exploring options for importing green hydrogen on a large scale. It has identified the Middle East and North Africa (‘MENA region’) as the key region for producing and sourcing green hydrogen. One of the potential suppliers is Qatar. Read more

BERLIN (own report) - On the initiative of the German Defence Ministry, the federal government and the Länder governments are working together in a joint effort to accelerate the realisation of military construction projects. It is part of a wider commitment to massively strengthen the German armed forces. More than 60 billion euros are to flow into the maintenance, upgrading and expansion of Bundeswehr properties and facilities across Germany over the next few years. Plans include the building of new accommodation for rising troop numbers, needed not least to implement the planned reintroduction of compulsory military service. The acquisition of new weapon systems also requires new specialised buildings for their storage and maintenance. The state of Bavaria has taken a lead here, having already passed into law various planning exemptions to facilitate military construction projects for Bundeswehr expansion. The state’s government in Munich has also removed the so-called “civil clauses”, under which universities were able to refuse to engage in research for military purposes. The expansion of military infrastructure is part of the Bundeswehr's reorientation on a potential war against Russia. This is not new: Berlin initiated such moves back in 2014. Read more