How did Putin revolutionize Germany's traditional foreign policy?

German foreign policy has undergone a dramatic change following the Russian attack on Ukraine, to turn from a country that has been following a cautious policy and slow external movement for years, to a country that takes choices and initiatives that put it in confrontation.

A report published by "Foreign Policy" magazine revealed a dramatic change in Berlin's long-running strategy, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. How did that happen?

German policy is usually characterized by a cautious, balanced strategy that is slow to adapt to changing external conditions, but in a surprising and contrary move, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his government carried out a "foreign policy revolution", by setting a course for confrontation with Russia, by increasing resources and strengthening the German army. .

Two days after the Russian attack on Ukraine, specifically on February 27, Schulz described the Russian attack as a "turning point" that required a nationalist German orientation that preserves the political and security system in Europe.

During the same extraordinary session of the German Parliament, Schulz announced the creation of a fund worth 100 billion euros (about 113 billion dollars) for the German army, in addition to allocating 2 percent of GDP to strengthen the defenses of the army, from now on.

Schulz was not satisfied with that, but in his speech to Parliament and the government, he referred to Germany's contributions to NATO, its deterrent presence in Lithuania, as well as its availability of German air defense systems to the member states of the alliance in Eastern Europe.

Schulz also stressed Germany's nuclear role in NATO, noting that the government might move to acquire the F-35 systems instead of the previously planned F/A-18 purchase.

Not only that, within a few days, Germany canceled Russia's largest energy supply project, imposed harsh sanctions on Moscow, and with a plan to strengthen its army became the largest country with a defense budget in Europe.

Despite all these sudden steps, which overthrew long years of caution in foreign policy, the path for the Schulz government will not be easy. The lack of energy, which could put a political burden that the far-right opposition will certainly exploit.

Building the army according to Schulz's scheme would take a long time, and eradicating Russian influence in German politics would be in dispute, but despite all that, Schulz and his government put the roots of a fundamental change in decades of cautious policy, a change that would restore Germany's leadership role and its fortified leadership. in Europe.