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New Security and Defence Industry Strategy for the Zeitenwende
First paragraph of the articleNational Security and Defence Industry Strategy
On 4 December 2024, the Federal Cabinet adopted the National Security and Defence Industry Strategy. The new National Security and Defence Industry Strategy sets the political and strategic framework for the defence industrial requirements related to national and collective defence. It focuses on the Federal Government’s new political guidelines for the security and defence industry.
The new National Security and Defence Industry Strategy replaces the 2020 Strategy Paper on Strengthening the Security and Defence Industry. It is a response to the new security challenges of the Zeitenwende – in particular to the new threat situation following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The strategy states that “Germany and Europe face a heightened imperative to assume responsibility for their own security and to work as strong, reliable actors in close cooperation with their international partners.”
The draft was jointly submitted by Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence, and Dr Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
The National Security and Defence Industry Strategy serves as the Federal Government’s new guideline for strengthening the security and defence industry. It sends a clear message to the industry and emphasizes its crucial contribution to Germany’s defence capability.
The National Security and Defence Industry Strategy serves as the Federal Government’s new guideline for strengthening the security and defence industry. It sends a clear message to the industry and emphasizes its crucial contribution to Germany’s defence capability.
“The presence of innovative and efficient defence companies in our country is crucial for Germany’s defence capability. This is the only way we can develop state-of-the-art weapon systems and, in particular, produce them in sufficient quantities, also together with our allies. The current threat situation requires us to promote key technologies in Germany. At the same time, we are facilitating European and international cooperation. This will make it easier for us to close NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization capability gaps in the future. With the National Security and Defence Industry Strategy, we are improving the general conditions for companies and opening a new chapter in the relations between government and industry, as required for the Zeitenwende,” said Federal Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
Focus on armaments: concrete contents of the strategy
Germany depends on an efficient national and European security and defence industry that is effective in all situations. The strategy is therefore centred around a dynamic, scalable and innovative industry that meets the requirements of the Bundeswehr and of the authorities and organisations with security tasks in a rapid and reliable way.
With the National Security and Defence Industry Strategy, the Federal Government aims to further expand the robust, effective and future-oriented security and defence industry in Germany and the EUEuropean Union. In this respect, the defence industrial requirements related to national and collective defence are the main priority. The National Security and Defence Industry Strategy provides the necessary framework by:
- further enhancing and promoting key security and defence industrial technologies
- placing an even stronger emphasis on European and international cooperation
- taking measures to protect supply chains
- putting a stronger focus on the financial conditions for the security and defence industry
- making it clear, with regard to sustainable financial investments, that a sustainable fund, for instance, can also invest in companies in the security and defence industry
- identifying inhibiting regulations and initiating adjustments
- working intensely to further secure the supply of skilled labour
The national security and defence industry includes all companies headquartered in Germany that generate a significant portion of their revenue in the security and defence industry and/or provide equipment and services in Germany to support civil security protection or military national and collective defence. They offer systems, products or services, or they are part of the associated value chain as suppliers or producers.
The Federal Government regularly engages in dialogue activities with the security and defence industry on specific topics. In this context, the Federal Ministry of Defence is responsible for the strategic industry dialogue and has also been organising the round table for medium-sized companies in the defence industry since 2023. |
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