Like all subjects of the public domain, National and European Defense policies cannot hope to have unanimous support. And often we find ourselves not only diverse but also full of contradicting attitudes within the same community. This is specifically the case in Austria, with its special role of Austrian neutrality. In general, there is a gap between the efforts and commitments of national governments and the European Union/NATO on one side, and public opinion on the other.

Zehn Jahre nach der starken Zuwanderung im Jahre 2015 wird uns immer wieder der Ausspruch von Angela Merkel „Wir schaffen das“ in Erinnerung gerufen. Und mehr noch als damals wird heute diese Aussage kritisiert und als Grund für den Anstieg des Rechtspopulismus angeführt. Zuletzt (Juli 2025) kritisierte ihr ehemaliger Innenminister Horst Seehofer Merkel außerordentlich scharf und forderte sie auf, zu den Opfern ihrer Politik zu gehen, um zu sehen, was sie angerichtet hat. Wenn man Merkel einen Vorwurf machen kann, dann nur den, dass ihren klaren Worten zu wenig an konkreten Integrationsmaßnahmen seitens des Staates folgten! Aber wahrscheinlich waren einige gar nicht interessiert, dass die Aufnahme und Integration gelingen würden!

There are several attempts to define the expression “strategic autonomy”. In its “negative” interpretation, it refers to the ability to defend against outside pressure and interference successfully. In its positive interpretation, it means that a country or union of countries is able to pursue its main goals and projects. Of course, there are always conditions and influences that must be taken into account. Strategic autonomy is always relative and limited, but it still gives more power than the constraints that exist for countries under the influence of an empire or in exclusive alliances. In today’s world, the successful implementation of strategic autonomy needs a sound and balanced economic basis and efficient military capabilities, which, by the way, applies to both Turkey and the European Union.

The relationship between European countries and Turkey has always been complicated. For many centuries, Turkey was definitely seen as a European country, and towards the end of the nineteenth century, it was called the “sick man of Europe“. However, as the relationship between Turkey and the European Union evolved further after World War II, the question arose of whether Turkey was a European country, and the issue of where the Eastern border of Europe should be drawn became a subject of intense discussion.

Again there is talk about achieving peace between Ukraine and Russia. It is much too early to see a concrete path towards peace or at least towards a cease fire, but an agreement, even a weak one, seems to be more realistic today than at any time since the start of the full-scale attack on Ukraine by Russia starting in February 2022.

What brought the recent meeting of Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen concerning trade between EU and US? Was it a deal, or was it just another misunderstanding between the two trading partners?  Anyway whatever it was, it resulted in chaos and confusion. That is not untypical for negotiations when Trump is involved, as with all so-called deals. Also, his actions inside the US government result in chaos. And perhaps the European Commission was just happy to have any kind of agreement - and I could share their eagerness to have any sort of agreement with which one could move on. But the question remains whereto can Europe move on now.

Am 1. August 1975, also vor 50 Jahren wurde in Helsinki ein Abkommen geschlossen, das eine Zeitenwende in Europa begründende, die sogenannten Helsinki Schlussakte. Den Begriff Zeitenwende hatte der ehemalige deutsche Bundeskanzler in die geo-politische Debatte nach dem russischen Einmarsch in die Ukraine am 24.2.2022 eingebracht. Er sollte anzeigen, dass der Krieg nach Europa zurückgekehrt ist und Europa sich wieder auf verstärkte Rüstungsausgaben einstellen muss. 1975 war es umgekehrt. Die davor und parallel zu den Vorbereitungen zur Konferenz von Helsinki geführten Gespräche zwischen Ost und West, insbesondere zwischen den Amerikanern und den „Russen“ (der Sowjetunion) führten zur Abrüstung und der Verständigung über sicherheitspolitische Fragen.

Already for many years, but in particular since the vicious attack of Hamas on October 7th, there is a lively debate amongst Jewish experts about how to define the many punitive actions of the Israeli government and the Israeli Defence Forces I.D.F. against Palestinian militant groups and the general population. Are these actions and especially the reactions to the brutal Hamas killings and hostage-takings justified and measured reactions or are they of a genocidal character? In addition some ask if it is even possible, that Israel can be accused of committing war crimes and especially a genocide due to its founding out of the Holocaust.