,,Not only to the East"
TUNIS/RABAT Germany is strengthening its defence cooperation with Tunisia and Morocco. As the German Defence Minister asserted after visits to Tunis and Rabat, Germany was turning ,,not only to the East"but also to conducting a dialogue with the North African States - independently of the ,,Opposite Coast"(ie France, Spain, Italy). The United States is also seeking greater influence in North Africa.
As the Defence Ministry announces, Berlin wants to expand the longstanding activities of German ,,military advisers"in Tunisia and Morocco by means of closer military cooperation with Tunis. Germany moreover is demanding from both States that they prevent migration from North Africa to the European Union. 1)At present speed boats of the German navy, as part of a NATO action group, are patrolling the Straits of Gibraltar.
Armed Components
Berlin has been working for some time on the expansion of German economic and military influence in the North African MAGREB States. 2)This involves both the holding in preparedness of those willing emigrant workers and their dispersal to German companies abroad. A further reason for expansion is the internal European and trans-atlantic competition since this new offensive is taking place in areas traditionally influenced by the Mediterranean powers of France, Italy and Spain. 3)The present desire of Berlin for a strengthened cooperation in these areas is in order to provide an armed (and completely independent of the USA) component of German Foreign Policy in North Africa.
1) See also earlier article ,,G 5"
2) See also earlier article Prosecution (I)
3) See also earlier article Divide et impera
Sources:
Verteidigungsminister Dr. Peter Struck besucht Marokko, Tunesien und deutsche Soldaten; Pressemitteilung des Bundesministeriums für Verteidigung 14.10.2003
Maghreb gehoert zu Europa; Pressemitteilung des Bundesministeriums für Verteidigung 31.10.2003
Sprung ueber das Mittelmeer; Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 03.11.2003