An Unexpected Gift

Germany and NATO's Eastern Flank

26 February 2020

Igor Merheim-Eyre & Łukasz Janulewicz

German political leaders poured cold water over President Macron’s comments about NATO and a possible rapprochement with Russia. Instead, they reinforced German security guarantees, in particular for the Central and Eastern European countries on NATO’s Eastern Flank. With a potential revival of the Weimar Triangle that could also include consultation on defence and security matters, Berlin ought to follow words by more ambitious deeds underpinned by a broader strategy.

In November of last year, French President Emanuel Macron rocked the NATO boat with his “brain-dead” diagnosis pronounced in his interview for The Economist. Among the many reactions his statements provoked, the German one was unexpectedly unequivocal and steadfast in light of Berlin’s notorious lack of direction and lacklustre attitude to defence.

Several senior German politicians not only highlighted the primacy of NATO as a European security framework and the need for more German burden-sharing but also cautioned against Macron’s enthusiasm for rapprochement with Russia.

Having now visited Warsaw, after working around Poland for the past three years of his presidency, Macron raised the prospect of reviving the Weimar Triangle, which also includes Germany. Leaving aside numerous failed past attempts to breathe political life into this format as well as more domestic EU issues it could address, the question remains whether today’s Germany can make a reliable partner for Poland (and by extension the other eastern flank countries) in security matters.

Subscribe

Democratic security comes at a price. What is yours? By subscribing or donating now gain access to analysis, forecasts and scenarios by leading analysts and reporters who monitor democratic risks and develop policy debate from Central Europe on Central Europe.

MonthlyVAT included

€4/month

See all details

  • Full access to articles and reports
  • Monthly foresights and risk analysis delivered by e-mail
  • Weekly newsletter with most important highlights
  • Visegrad Insight social media community groups invitation

AnnualVAT included

€40/year

See all details

  • All monthly features PLUS…
  • Free invitation to one editorial board discussion to participate in deciding on the future direction of the Visegrad Insight
  • Free delivery of two select hardcopies of Visegrad Insight reports

Student OR Donation

Choose your contribution

See all details

  • Full access to articles and reports
  • Monthly foresights, weekly newsletters, and risk analysis delivered by e-mail
  • Free invitation to one editorial board discussion to participate in deciding on the future direction of the Visegrad Insight (annual subscription only)

Can I receive an invoice?

Yes. You will receive a receipt immediately after purchase and a VAT invoice upon request. The subscription amount includes tax. In case of a donation, there is no tax.

Are my credit card details safe?

Yes. The payment is processed by STRIPE www.stripe.com entrusted also by Amazon, Zoom, Booking.com and used by other global NGOs and businesses in the world. We do not store your credit card details.

How modify or cancel my subscription?

At any moment you can manage your subscription and account details. Sign in to modify or cancel.

Newsletter

Weekly updates with our latest articles and the editorial commentary.