Welcome
Foreign Minister Baerbock’s #SicherLeben (#LivingInSecurity) tour through Germany
Deutschlandreise der Bundesministerin des Auswaertigen im Rahmen der Nationalen Sicherheitsstrategie. Annalena Baerbock (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen), Bundesaussenministerin, nimmt im Universum Bremen an einem Townhall Buergerdialog teil. Bremen, 14.07.2022, © Thomas Trutschel/photothek.de
On 14 July, Foreign Minister Baerbock embarked on a tour through Germany. Its theme was #SicherLeben (#LivingInSecurity), and it formed part of the drafting process for a National Security Strategy.
The Minister’s tour is part of the inclusive dialogue process
The German Government has decided to develop the first National Security Strategy in our country’s history. Work began in March and is being led by the Federal Foreign Office. For Foreign Minister Baerbock, it is very important for this process to include the general public, parliament, experts, associations, civil society and international partners. The ten‑day trip through Germany was part of these efforts.
Security concerns us all
Foreign Minister Baerbock wants to have an exchange with citizens, in order to hear what their expectations are regarding the strategy and thus help highlight that security is an issue that concerns us all. After all, decisions relating to security policy are made not only at the Federal Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence, but also by companies, municipalities and universities. They may concern multifaceted questions such as where we buy our natural gas, whom we enter into research cooperation with and who invests in our electricity grids. At her first stop in Rostock, the Foreign Minister emphasised:
That’s why the National Security Strategy is being drafted not only at the Federal Foreign Office and various other Government Ministries, but rather why this process will begin with a listening tour focusing on security policy in Germany. It’s important that I learn about the concerns and fears of the younger generation in particular when it comes to how we are collectively building up their security and their future in Europe. And this is especially important because recent months have once again made clear that security and freedom are not simply the absence of war, but that security and freedom need to be guaranteed in many other areas as well.
The Foreign Minister discussed these questions with those the security strategy aims to protect – that is, the people who live in Germany.
The discussions were guided by the strategy’s three core issues Foreign Minister Baerbock raised in her speech at the launch event in March:
- Security for the invulnerability of our lives – first and foremost when it comes to violence and war;
- Security for our freedom, i.e. the resilience of our democracy and defending our chosen way of life;
- Security for the fundamental necessities of our lives, i.e. protecting our environment and resources.
The process includes citizens’ and business forums
Citizens’ forums – with participants who were randomly selected ahead of time – were a key part of the trip. They were held at the start of the trip in Bremen and during the final stop in Munich. The dialogue phase of the National Security Strategy will come to a close this autumn when Foreign Minister Baerbock meets with selected participants of the citizens’ forums. At this final event, the Minister will report back to them on the ways in which the insights gained through their forums will inform the National Security Strategy drafting process.
During her tour through Germany, Minister Baerbock also visited institutions that play a key role in our security, such as the Bundeswehr, civil protection organisations, decision-makers at municipal level, and companies that are responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, maintaining security of supply and protecting systemically relevant branches.
