Inter-Ministerial Guidelines
BERLIN/ESCHBORN (own report) – The German government is intensifying coordination between its development and military policies, as can be seen by a recent "strategy paper" published by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). This "strategy paper" explicitly pledges cooperation with the Bundeswehr within the framework of combat operations. It points to numerous "civilian – military points of contact," which would be particularly relevant for having an impact on "fragile nations" suffering civil wars and economic crises. The paper takes German "support" for the "reconstruction of Afghanistan" as an example. It also makes reference to the "Inter-Ministerial Guidelines" elaborated by the BMZ, the Defense and Foreign Ministries. The "guidelines" are intended to provide a "coherent policy" toward "fragile nations," whereby a "robust profile" of military and police combat measures are the decisive "success factors" in interventions in so-called third world countries. BMZ cooperation with repressive services had recently been on the agenda of the Bundestag's Economic Cooperation and Development Committee. The German Association for International Cooperation (GIZ), a subsidiary of the BMZ, provided a briefing on its "border control project" in Saudi Arabia. Whereas the EADS Corp. provides that country with the necessary infrastructure, the GIZ supervised German Federal Police sent to train Saudi border police – on a budget in the double-digit millions.
Networked Security
Recently, the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dirk Niebel (FDP) presented his ministry's new "Strategy Paper," entitled "Development for Peace and Security," explicitly pledging a close cooperation with the Bundeswehr in the framework of military combat operations. This tight integration of development, foreign and military policies, as called for by the "networked security" doctrine, is being justified by the assumption that civil wars and economic crises in "fragile nations," pose a "risk" to "global security." It is indicative that in its paper, the BMZ classifies more than half of its "partner countries" as "fragile," as potential "hubs for international drugs and arms trading, as well as for terrorism."[1]
Civilian-Military
The BMZ also considers the implementation of "civilian-military points of contacts" to be particularly "relevant" for the reorientation of German development policy. According to the strategy paper, the "joint maneuvers" in "civilian and military interaction in fragile nations," carried out by military and development personnel at the German Armed Forces Staff College are "good examples." Among the themes especially handled were crises of food and finances, the "consequences of climate change," "migration," as well as the "administration of natural resources." The "strategy paper" also names alleged successes of this propagated "civilian-military cooperation," e.g. the establishment of a "multi-dimensional African peace force" and "rebuilding Afghanistan."[2]
Fragile Nations
According to the BMZ, this new strategy paper is based on the "Inter-Ministerial Guidelines" for a "coherent policy" vis à vis "fragile nations," elaborated jointly by the BMZ, the Foreign, and Defense Ministries.[3] The BMZ describes the "fragile nations" as "the greatest challenge to global security." "They represent trans-border destabilization potentials; serve as hubs for illegal trading in weapons, drugs, human beings and cultural goods; serve as safe areas for terrorist networks and threaten legal commercial traffic." Like the BMZ's strategy paper, the "guidelines" allege an "inseparable coherence between security and development," making a commitment to a "networked approach," interlinking development, foreign and military policies in the interest of "international crisis management."[4]
Task Forces
To confront "crisis-ridden developments" throughout the world, the "guidelines" recommend establishing "task forces" from among the BMZ, the Foreign and Defense Ministries' staffs "specialized in specific countries or regions." Their task will be to produce – with "input from think tanks and other external expertise sources" – "situational forecasts and power structure analyses" of crisis regions in question, and eventually be able to indicate local "cooperation partners." The "guidelines" explicitly invoke the German government's enacted "White Paper on German Security Policy and the Future of the Bundeswehr, 2006," which defines the military as the "instrument" for the implementation of "German interests" throughout the world. Consequently, the "guidelines" signify also a "robust profile" of "international engagements using military and/or police components" as the basis for "success in stabilization and development."[5]
Closely Interlinked
The Bundestag's Economic Cooperation and Development Committee recently discussed the stage of development of the cooperation between the BMZ, the Defense Ministry and repressive forces. The German Association for International Cooperation (GIZ), which functions under BMZ authority, provided the committee members a paper, briefing them on its cooperation with "state and private security services." The paper was introduced by a statement of the Minister of Development, Dirk Niebel, a reserve officer of the Bundeswehr, who explained that "complex conflict situations, such as those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or in Afghanistan, could not be solved by applying development, diplomatic or military policy alone. This is why we are closely interlinking and overcoming misgivings separating our fields of policies."[6]
Reciprocal Schooling
Any "misgivings" between the GIZ and the German repressive forces should have long since been overcome. The development agency maintains intense academic and personnel exchanges with the Federal College for Security Studies (BAKS) and the German Armed Forces Staff College, and has become a partner in an official "cooperation agreement" with the Ministry of Defense. The latter provides for supporting the military with development policy know-how, for example, by making GIZ "analyses of theatres of mission" available through "schooling soldiers." On the other hand, the Bundeswehr generously places its infrastructures at the GIZ's disposal. GIZ employees are provided "preparation training" and access to "mission installations," social services facilities, shopping possibilities, the field post office, transportation capacities, and emergency medical service. In cooperation with the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation, the GIZ is planning this year, to stage an event for "Global Players," meaning "major German enterprises with strong interests in international hot spots around the world."[7]
Support for the Arms Industry
The GIZ is also significantly participating in "development projects" relating to military and police. Whereas, it had been responsible for setting up the local police infrastructure in Afghanistan, in Saudi Arabia, it is supervising the German Federal Police, who train border guards. This latter project is part of a contract between the German government and that Gulf monarchy, for the delivery of EADS Corp. "border security systems," valued at 1.1 billon Euros. (german-foreign-policy.com reported.[8]) The GIZ has a total of 33 million Euros at its disposal for the logistical and administrative "support services" involved in this project.
[1], [2], [3] Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung: Entwicklung für Frieden und Sicherheit. Entwicklungspolitisches Engagement im Kontext von Konflikt, Fragilität und Gewalt. BMZ-Strategiepapier 4/2013
[4], [5] Auswärtiges Amt/Bundesministerium der Verteidigung/Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung: Für eine kohärente Politik der Bundesregierung gegenüber fragilen Staaten - Ressortübergreifende Leitlinien. Berlin, August 2012
[6], [7] Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung: Zusammenarbeit der GIZ mit staatlichen und privaten Sicherheitskräften. Berlin, Dezember 2012
[8] s. dazu Wasser als Waffe