Former ambassador Martin Erdmann on Europe's security in transition

Martin Erdmann took the audience on a journey through the eventful history of transatlantic relations. He recalled key turning points, including the "almost fateful Wednesday" on which Donald Trump won the US presidential election - an event that he believes will profoundly change Europe's security architecture. The question of how Germany and Europe should react to the increasing unpredictability of the USA was a recurring theme throughout the evening.

Erdmann emphasized the importance of European unity in the face of the challenges: "Europeans must finally unite," he warned. The urgency of a coherent European security strategy became clear when he criticized Europe's dependence on the American nuclear shield. In his view, Europe would hardly be able to guarantee its own security without this protection.

But instead of getting lost in figures and statistics, Erdmann focused on the fundamental strategic questions: How can Europe become more independent? And what role should Germany play in this?

A central topic of the evening was the often controversially discussed burden-sharing within NATO. Erdmann placed the two percent target of the member states at the center of his presentation and critically questioned the current calculation methods. According to his assessment, the figures do not always reflect the actual willingness of a nation to invest in its defense capabilities.

Erdmann also made it clear that it was not just about figures, but about a fundamental attitude: Europe must be prepared to take more responsibility for its own security. "We must invest in conventional missiles and a modernized air force. Our external security must no longer be neglected," he appealed. The appeal struck a chord with the audience and led to lively discussions in the subsequent Q&A session.

Another focus of the evening was Turkey's role within NATO and its geopolitical positioning. Erdmann outlined Turkey as a country full of contradictions: on the one hand, it has enormous potential - from its stable demographics to the dynamism of its economy, which offers the best conditions for renewable energies. On the other hand, autocratic developments under President Erdogan are causing increasing tensions between Turkey and the West.

With regard to the geopolitical situation, Erdmann emphasized Turkey's strategic importance: "The country is located at one of the most crucial interfaces in world politics - between Europe, Africa and Russia." He emphasized that Turkey holds both opportunities and risks for NATO and European security policy. The closer relations between Erdogan and Putin and the growing influence of China would pose considerable challenges for NATO.

Despite all the tensions, Erdmann was optimistic that Turkey could return to a policy that is more in line with the West's ideas in the long term. However, maintaining this balance is one of the major tasks of the international community.

At the end of the evening, Erdmann took a look at the upcoming challenges for Germany and Europe. He made it clear that the world has become more insecure and that Germany must be prepared to take responsibility for its own security.

"German society is not ready for nuclear weapons, but without deterrence it will be difficult to guarantee our security," said Erdmann. This idea, coupled with an appeal to Europe's own responsibility, ran through the entire discussion. The former ambassador called on the audience not only to analyze the past, but also to play an active role in shaping the future.