Recapturing the Zeitenwende – How German Defence Spending Affects British Grand Strategy
Channel: War Studies KCL
Date: 2022-06-14

With Britain's Integrated Review having recently passed its twelve-month anniversary, the Centre for Grand Strategy at King’s College London plans to host three events examining its successes, failures, and implications.

This panel discussion with Q and A seeks to contextualise the ongoing recalibration of Britain’s relationship to Europe through the lens of Germany's recent announcements regarding increased defence spending. It would seek to address, among other questions:

As legislation passes from the Bundestag to the Bundesrat for final approval, will a substantial change in military capacities over time really be delivered, given past inefficiencies, legal constraints, and bureaucracy? Will this change in spending be backed-up by a broader shift in mindset and structures, for example less restrictive rules of engagement, or greater public support for riskier deployments? If it lives up to its commitments, Germany will have the largest military budget in Europe: what is the political significance of this for European partners, and should Britain see competition or opportunities for co-operation in Germany's changing defence posture?