The State, Maritime Security and The Navy as an Instrument of Foreign Policy

Given the broad variety of perspectives on maritime security within Germany and even within the navy, discussing the latter’s role in foreign policy is highly complex. Furthermore, by the prevalent interpretation of the constitution, the Grundgesetz, strict boundaries are set between domestic and international security. As a consequence, the Bundeswehr is to focus on (external) national defence and not generally vested with (domestic) law-enforcement powers.