Foreign relations of Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany is a Central European country and member of the European Union, Group of 8 and NATO (among others). Germany is one of the world's leading industrialized countries and biggest market economy in Europe, with "windows to the East and West".

Since reunification in 1990, Germany has further extended its commitments and central position in European and global affairs.

History since 1945

Main article: History of Germany since 1945

Since 1951, Germany has been at the heart of European Integration and after German reunification in 1990 further promoted peaceful integration with its neighbors. Strong ties with the United States remain central to German foreign policy.

Within the framework of NATO and an integrated European Defence Force, the Federal Republic has resumed the deployment of military units to mediate in conflict regions worldwide.

Germany is one of the world's strongest supporters for ecological awareness in response to climate change and global warming.

Centerpieces of German foreign policy since 1945

Franco-German cooperation

Main article: Franco-German cooperation

Being the historic core of Europe and the "twin engine for European integration", the cooperation with France is one of the most central element of German foreign policy. The Elysée Treaty from 1963 set the foundation for a collaboration that - next to the European project - also repeatedly called for a "Core Union" with maximum integration 1.

European integration

European integration has gone a long way since the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the Elysée Treaty. Peaceful collaborations with its neighbors remain one of Germany's biggest political objectives, and Germany has been on the forefront of most achievements made in European integration:

• Maastricht Treaty

Most of the social issues facing European countries in general: immigration, aging populations, straining social-welfare and pension systems - are all important in Germany. Germany seeks to maintain peace through the "deepening" of integration among current members of the European Union member states

• European Defence Force
• Introduction of the single currency € Euro

Germany has been the largest net contributor to EU budgets for decades (in absolute terms - given Germany's comparatively large population - not per capita) and seeks to limit the growth of these net payments in the enlarged union.

• European Constitution

Westbindung

"Bindung" is the German word for fixation or bond; "Westbindung" is Germany's implant into Western Europe and the Western World.

In particular during the Cold War - but continuous into the 21st century - (West-) German foreign policy pursues the country's integration into NATO and a strong co-operation and collective security with its Western partners.

As a free democracy and market economy, the world's largest exporting nation and the world's third-richest economy (nominal GDP) (behind the U.S. and Japan), Germany shares the interest and institutions of a free and secure world trade.

Israel and the Near East

Main articles: Germany-Israel relations, Jews in Germany, Iran-Germany relations, and German-Iraqi relations

Following German history during the Holocaust, one of Postwar Germany's aims were to establish and maintain relations of Wiedergutmachung with the State of Israel. Starting with the Reparations Agreement in 1952, support for the national security of the State of Israel is central to German foreign policy.

Germany has been actively involved in the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty in 1979, the Oslo Accords (1993) which led to the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty in 1994 and the continuous Peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which make Germany arguably (next to the United States) Israel's closest ally.

Germany also holds a special relationship with Turkey and is active in maintaining diplomatic relationships with Iran.

Ostpolitik

Main article: Ostpolitik

Under the Hallstein Doctrine, the FRG did not have any diplomatic relations with countries in Eastern Europe until the early 1970s, when Willy Brandt's Ostpolitik led to increased dialogue and treaties like the Treaty of Warsaw, where West Germany accepted the Oder-Neisse line as German-Polish border, and the Basic Treaty, where West and East Germany accepted each other as sovereign entities. Both Germany states were admitted to the United Nations on 18 September 1973.

Development aid

Germany is one of the largest net contributors of the UN and has several development agencies working in Africa and the Middle East.

German reunification

Main article: German reunification

After the Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Treaty on the Final Settlement With Respect to Germany, German reunification took effect on 3 October 1990.

On 14 November 1990, Germany and Poland signed a treaty confirming the Oder-Neisse line. They also concluded a cooperation treaty on 17 June 1991. Germany concluded four treaties with the Soviet Union covering the overall bilateral relationship, economic relations, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the territory of the former GDR, and German support for those troops.

Russia accepted obligations under these treaties as successor to the Soviet Union.

Centerpieces of German Foreign Policy since 1990

Central & Eastern Europe

EU Monetary Union and the single currency euro

• OSCE
• NATO enlargement

The German government was a strong supporter of the enlargement of NATO.

• Balkan Crisis

Germany was one of the first nations to recognize Croatia and Slovenia as independent nations, rejecting the concept of Yugoslavia as the only legitimate political order of the Balkan (unlike other European powers, who first proposed a pro-Belgrad policy). This is why Serb authorities sometimes referred to "new German imperialism" as one of the main reasons of Yugoslavia's collapse. German troops participate in the multinational efforts to bring peace and stability to the Balkans.

• European Union enlargement

Weimar triangle; Germany continues to be active economically in the states of central and eastern Europe, and to actively support the development of democratic institutions. In the 2000s Germany has been arguably the centerpiece of the European Union (though the importance of France cannot be overlooked in this connection).

(see also Foreign relations of the European Union)

Ecological involvement

see also Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Kyoto protocol

Initiative for a permanent seat in the UNSC

The German Federal Government began an initiative to obtain a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, as part of the Reform of the United Nations. This would require approval of a two-thirds majority of the member states and approval of all five Security Council veto powers.

This aspiration could be successful due to Germany's good relations with the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation. Germany is a stable and democratic republic and a G7 country which are also favourable attributes. The United Kingdom and France support German ascension to the supreme body. [1] The U.S. is sending mixed signals.

War on terror

Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder with former U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House in 2001

In 2001, the discovery that the terrorist cell which carried out the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, was based in Hamburg, sent shock waves through the country.

The government of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder backed the following U.S. military actions, sending Bundeswehr troops to Afghanistan to lead a joint NATO program to provide security in the country after the ousting of the Taliban.

Nearly all of the public was strongly against America's 2003 invasion of Iraq, and any deployment of troops. This position was shared by the SPD/Green government, which led to some friction with the United States.

In August 2006, the German government disclosed a botched plot to bomb two German trains. The attack was to occur in July 2006 and involved a 21-year-old Lebanese man, identified only as Youssef Mohammed E. H. Prosecutors said Youssef and another man left suitcases stuffed with crude propane-gas bombs on the trains.

As of February 2007, Germany had about 3,000 NATO-led ISAF force in Afghanistan as part of the War on Terrorism, the third largest contingent after the United States (14,000) and the United Kingdom (5,200). [2] German forces are mostly in the more secure north of the country.

However, Germany, along with some other larger European countries (with the exception of the UK and the Netherlands), have been criticised by the British and Canadians for not sharing the burden of the more intensive combat operations in southern Afghanistan. [3] [4]

Foreign military relations

Under the doctrine introduced by the 2003 Defense Policy Guidelines, Germany continues to give priority to the transatlantic partnership with the United States through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. However, Germany is giving increasing attention to coordinating its policies with the European Union through the Common European Security and Defence Policy.

Membership in international institutions

Council of Europe, European Union, European Space Agency, G4, G8, IMF, NATO, OECD, OSCE, UNO, World Bank Group, WTO

Bilateral relations

Europe

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Austria		See Austria–Germany relations Due to German being the common language of the two European countries relations between them are close.
Azerbaijan		Azerbaijan has an embassy in Berlin. Germany has an embassy in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Belarus	1999	Belarus has an embassy in Berlin and a Branch office in Bonn. Germany has an embassy in Minsk. German Federal Foreign Office about relations with Belarus
Belgium		See Foreign relations of Belgium
Bulgaria		See Bulgarian-German relations Bulgaria has an embassy in Berlin, a general-consulate in Munich and an office in Bonn. Germany has an embassy in Sofia. German Foreign Ministry about relations with Bulgaria German embassy in Sofia (in German and Bulgarian only)
Croatia	1992-01-15	See Croatian-German relations Croatia has an embassy in Berlin and 5 general consulates (in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, and Stuttgart). Germany has an embassy in Zagreb and an honorary consulate in Split. There are more than 200,000 Croats who live in Germany.Historically Germany has had a close collaboration with Croatia. Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration: list of bilateral treaties signed with Germany German Federal Foreign Office about relations with Croatia
Cyprus		See Foreign relations of Cyprus
Czech Republic		See Czech–German relations Today, both countries share 815 km of common borders. The Czech Republic has an embassy in Berlin, 3 general consulates (in Bonn, Dresden and Munich), and 6 honorary consulates (in Dortmund, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Nürnberg, Rostock and Stuttgart). Germany has an embassy in Prague.
Denmark		See Danish-German relations Denmark has an embassy in Berlin and 3 General Consulates in Flensburg, Hamburg and Munich. Both countries closely border each other.
UK		See Anglo-German relations The two countries fought against each other in World War I and World War II.
France		See France – Germany relations In recent times, France and Germany are among the most enthusiastic proponents of the further integration of the EU. They are sometimes described as the "twin engine" or "core countries" pushing for moves.
Georgia		See Foreign relations of Georgia
Greece	1834 (Prussia)	The first Greek Embassy in Berlin was established in 1834, when Berlin was the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia. Greece has an embassy in Berlin and eight General Consulates in (Hamburg, Hannover, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt). Germany has an embassy in Athens and a General Consulate in Thessaloniki. German Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Greece Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Germany
Hungary	1973-12-21	Germany has an embassy in Budapest. Hungary has an embassy in Berlin, 2 general consulates (in Düsseldorf and Münich) and 9 honorary consulates (in Bremerhaven, Erfurt, Hamburg, Nürnberg, Schwerin, Dresden, Essen, Frankfurt and Stuttgart). Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union. German Federal Foreign Office about relations with Hungary Germany embassy in Budapest (in German and Hungarian only)
Iceland		Germany has an embassy in Reykjavik. Iceland has an embassy in Berlin and 10 honorary consulates in Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Köln, München, Rostock, Stuttgart, and Wissen. German-Icelandic cultural relations go back more than a thousand years, both country share Germanic cultural background. Both countries are NATO members. Germany Federal Foreign Office about relations with Iceland
Ireland	1922	Irish Ambassador William Warnock with the German Foreign Ministry official Dr. Heß, after signing a trade agreement in 1961 Germany has an embassy in Dublin and 2 honorary consulates (in Cork and Galway). Ireland has an embassy in Berlin and 4 honorary consulates (in Bergisch-Gladbach, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Munich). Both countries are full members of the European Union. German Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Ireland
Italy		Relations were established after the Unification of Italy. Both countries enjoy friendly relations and were members of the Axis during World War Two, formed an alliance during the Cold War (West Germany), and are full members of the European Union. Italy also has embassies in the following cities, Berlin, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Nuremberg, Saarbrücken, and Stuttgart. Germany has embassies in Rome, Milan and Naples.
Kosovo		See German–Kosovan relations Germany recognized Kosovo on 20 February 2008. Germany has an embassy in Pristina since 27 February 2008. Kosovo will open an embassy in Berlin. Germany is the second-largest donor to Kosovo behind the US.
Latvia	1991-08-28	Germany has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Berlin, a general consulate in Bonn and 7 honorary consulates (in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Köln, Künzelsau, Lübeck and München). Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, of NATO and of the European Union. German Federal Foreign Office about relations with Latvia Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Germany
Malta	1965	The German embassy opened in Valletta in 1965. Malta has an embassy in Berlin. Both countries are members of the European Union. German Foreign Ministry about relations with Malta
Moldova	1992-04-30	See Germany–Moldova relations The Federal Republic of Germany recognised independence of Moldova on 14 December 1991. Germany opened its embassy in Chisinau on 2 November 1992. Moldova opened its own embassy in Bonn on 28 March 1995.
Lithuania		Germany has an embassy in Vilnius. Lithuania has an embassy in Berlin, an office in Bonn and 7 honorary consulates (in Dresden, Düsseldorf, Erfurt, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Künzelsau and München). Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, of NATO and of the European Union. German Federal Foreign Office about relations with Lithuania Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Poland (in Lithuanian only)
Poland		See German–Polish relations During the Cold War, communist Poland had good relations with East Germany, but had strained relations with West Germany. After the fall of communism, Poland and the reunited Germany have had a mostly positive but occasionally strained relationship due to some political issues. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Germany has been a proponent of Poland's participation in NATO and the European Union. The Polish-German border is 467 km long.
Romania	1872	Both countries have - due to a formerly significant number of Germans of Romania - also cultural relations. Germany has an embassy in Bucharest and 2 consulates (in Sibiu and Timişoara). Romania has an embassy in Berlin and 2 consulates-general (in Bonn and Munich). German Federal Foreign Office about relation with Romania Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Germany
Russia		See Germany–Russia relations Germany tries to keep Russia engaged with the Western world. The future aim is to promote a stable market-economy liberal democracy in Russia, which is part of the Western world.
Serbia	1951	Germany has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Berlin and 5 general consulates (in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf). There are around 505,000 people of Serbian descent living in Germany. (See also Germans of Serbia, Serbs in Germany) German Federal Foreign Office about relations with Serbie German embassy Belgrade(in German and Serbian only) Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Germany
Slovakia	1993	Germany has an embassy in Bratislava. Slovakia has an embassy in Berlin, an embassy branch in Bonn, a general consulate in Munich and 6 honorary consulates (in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Hamburg, Langenhagen, Leipzig, Stuttgart and Wuppertal). Both countries are full members of NATO and of the European Union. There are around 20,000 people of Slovak descent living in Germany. German Foreign Office about the relation with Slovakia
Sweden		Relations have been strong with cultural and economic cooperation. Germany has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Berlin. Sweden also has 12 honorary consulates in Germany.
Turkey		See German–Turkish relations Based on good Turkish-German relations from the 19th century onwards, Germany promoted a Turkish immigration to Germany. However, large scale didn't occur until the 20th century. Germany suffered an acute labor shortage after World War II and, in 1961, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) officially invited Turkish workers to Germany to fill in this void, particularly to work in the factories that helped fuel Germany's economic miracle. The German authorities named these people Gastarbeiter (German for guest workers). Most Turks in Germany trace their ancestry to Central and Eastern Anatolia. Today, Turks are Germany's largest ethnic minority and form most of Germany's Muslim minority.
Ukraine		See Germany–Ukraine relations Germany has an embassy in Kiev. Ukraine has an embassy in Berlin and 3 Consulates-General (in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich).

Americas

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Barbados	1967-03-14	See Barbados–Germany relations Barbados is represented in Germany through its embassy in Brussels, (Belgium). Germany is represented in to Barbados from its embassy in Port of Spain, (Trinidad and Tobago).
Canada		See Canada–Germany relations Until 2005 Canada's embassy was in Bonn, but in April 2005 a new embassy opened in Berlin. Canada also operates consulates in Munich, Dusseldorf and Hamburg. The provinces of Ontario and Alberta have representatives in Germany, co-located in the consulates. Quebec runs a stand-alone bureau in Munich, with an “antenne culturelle” office in Berlin. In addition to its embassy in Ottawa, Germany maintains consulates in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Additional diplomats responsible for specialized files are also accredited from Washington.
Paraguay	1860-08-01	Germany has an embassy in Asuncion. Paraguay has an embassy in Berlin. German Federal Foreign Office about relations with Paraguay Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with Germany
United States		See Germany – United States relations Since 2006, the current chancellor Angela Merkel has sought warmer relations with the United States and to rebuild political ties on common values and beliefs.
Uruguay		See Germany–Uruguay relations Germany has an embassy in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Berlin, a general consulate in Hamburg and 6 honorary consulate (in Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Potsdam and Stuttgart). Germany is the Uruguay's principal trading partner in the European Union.

Asia

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Armenia		See Armenia–Germany relations Armenian-German relations have always been stable and solid, with both countries continuing to work together and advance through the years with in cooperation. Both countries' leaders have discussed bilateral relations and noted that they have considerably improved over the last few years.
India		See Germany–India relations Germany and India have great military and trade relations with each other. Germany being one of the first countries to agree with the Indo-US Nuclear deal.
Iraq		See Germany–Iraq relations Iraq has an embassy in Berlin. Germany has an embassy in Baghdad. There are currently some 84,000-150,000 Iraqis living in Germany.
Israel		See Germany–Israel relations Germany-Israel relations refers to the special relationship between Israel and Germany based on shared beliefs, Western values and a combination of historical perspectives. Among the most important factors in their relations is Nazi Germany's role in the genocide of European Jews during the Holocaust.
Japan		See Germany–Japan relations Regular meetings between the two countries have lead to several cooperations. In 2004 German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi agreed upon cooperations in the assistance for reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, the promotion of economic exchange activities, youth and sports exchanges as well as exchanges and cooperation in science, technology and academic fields. After China, Japan is Germany's principal trading partner in Asia in 2006:
Malaysia		See Germany–Malaysia relations Germany has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia has an embassy in Berlin.
Pakistan		Pakistan and Germany enjoy closely cordial relations. Germany has taken extreme measures to aid the South Asian country in its' economic and governmental hardship. Commercial trade between Islamabad and Berlin has also been very essential in recent years seeing as Germany is Pakistan's fourth largest trade partner. Also, Germany is home to 35,081 Pakistani immigrants. See also Pakistanis in Germany
People's Republic of China		See People's Republic of China – Germany relations Germany has traditionally good relationships with the People's Republic of China, even though Angela Merkel and large parts of Germany's political class have recently criticised the People's Republic for holding back reforms in the field of democracy and human rights as well as for the oppression of Tibet. In recent years trade between both countries has reached high volumes, both in import and exports.

Africa

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Egypt	1957-12	See Egypt–Germany relations Egypt has an embassy in Berlin, as well as consulates in Frankfurt and Hamburg. Germany has an embassy in Cairo.
Libya		See Germany–Libya relations Germany is represented in Libya with an embassy in Tripolis, while Libya has an embassy in Berlin. The relationship between these countries was tense in the late 1980s following a bombing incident, but has improved since with increasingly close co-operation especially on economic matters.
Namibia		See Germany–Namibia relations Peter Katjavivi, a founder of the University of Namibia and longtime South West Africa People's Organization member, has been the Namibian ambassador in Berlin since 2006.

See also

• Security issues in Germany
• Human rights in Germany
• List of diplomatic missions in Germany
• List of diplomatic missions of Germany
• Sino-German cooperation (1911–1941)

Further reading

• Germany in Europe
• German -Bashing and the Breakup of Yugoslavia, ("The Donald W. Treadgold Papers in Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, nº 16, March 1998). University of Washington: HMJ School of International Studies
• The German Economy in the New Europe
• EU Enlargement and Transatlantic Relations
• Bierling, Stephan. Die Außenpolitik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Normen, Akteure, Entscheidungen. 2. Auflage. München: Oldenbourg, 2005 ISBN 3-486-57766-2.
• von Bredow, Wilfried. Die Außenpolitik der Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Eine Einführung. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, 2006 ISBN 3-531-13618-6.

External links

• Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations
• Auswärtiges Amt
• AICGS American Institute for Contemporary German Studies
• SWP German Institute for International and Security Affairs