speeches by the dcm

15th Atlantik Bruecke Expert Meeting of Military Commanders
Deputy Chief of Mission John M. Koenig

Berlin
September 13, 2006

It is a pleasure to participate in the 15th annual Atlantik Bruecke Expert Meeting. It is an honor for me to moderate this session on German security policy within a changing European context, and to have the opportunity to introduce two distinguished panelists, General Inspector of the Bundeswehr General Wolfgang Schneiderhan, and Deputy Commander of the U.S. European Command General Charles Ward.

Having just arrived in Berlin last month from the U.S. Mission to NATO, the discussions we are having unite my previous duties with my current responsibilities. So far, the meetings have confirmed what we had come to recognize in Brussels and in Washington, namely that Germany is once again at the very center of the transatlantic partnership. When I arrived at NATO in 2003, the Alliance had just taken the lead international role for security in the Afghan capital, Kabul. When I left in July of this year, NATO had the lead in three quarters of the country, and was preparing to take command for all of Afghanistan later this year. It was Germany that led NATO to begin expanding outside of Kabul, and Germany remains the lead ally in the north, as Regional Commander. This is a difficult mission, and we are fulfilling it together – like true partners. Afghanistan is only one example of the leading role Germany plays in transatlantic relations. As we prepare for the meeting of our heads of state and government this November in Riga, the United States and Germany will continue our close coordination on our shared Summit agenda: a deeper political dialogue at NATO on security issues; a NATO with global partners that share our values; as well as stronger military capabilities.

In pursuing our shared security interests, as General Jones noted, we face a different global strategic context. The end of the Cold War set into motion ongoing changes in the global security environment. But a common purpose unites the disparate NATO missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq and elsewhere: the promotion of peace and security; the protection of freedom. Asymmetrical threats, such as the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 in the U.S., on March 11 in Madrid, and July 7 in London, but also the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction now command our attention as we confront the challenges of this century.

NATO is redefining itself in a world where the challenges come not only from states but also from non-state actors such as terrorist networks. NATO is transforming itself to become more proactive than reactive, more expeditionary than static and more diverse in its capabilities. This also means stronger partnerships and closer relations with international organizations. The United States has been clear that a strong Europe is in our interests and is good for NATO. General Schneiderhan is a leading proponent of innovation and transformation in the German Bundeswehr and within the EU. I look forward to his presentation and some interesting discussion afterwards.