Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

December

• Merkel, Putin Discuss Nord Stream 2, Libya, Syria, And Ukraine RFE/RL 29 Dec 2019 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed issues from the Baltics to Libya in a wide-ranging telephone conversation on December 29, officials said.
• Germany's 2019 Military Export Reaches Record $8.85Bln - Reports Sputnik 27 Dec 2019 -- The German government approved 7.95 billion euros ($8.85 billion) worth of military equipment sales in 2019, beating the record it set in 2015, the Deutsche Presse-Agentur news agency reported on Friday, citing the government's response to lawmakers' request.
• Russia, Germany, UK, France underline preserving JCPOA IRNA 20 Dec 2019 -- Representatives of JCPOA member states, including Russia, France, Germany and Britain, discussed JCPOA in Moscow, stressing the need for saving the international deal.
• Germany's Top Diplomat Contradicts Putin, Says Russia Never Asked To Extradite Chechen Fighter RFE/RL 15 Dec 2019 -- Germany's top diplomat denied Moscow requested the extradition of an ethnic Chechen before he was murdered in Berlin, contradicting a statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Russia Expels Two Germans From Embassy In Diplomatic Tit-For-Tat RFE/RL 12 Dec 2019 -- Russia has announced the expulsion of two German diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to a similar move by Berlin last week.
• German Embassy Employees Declared Personae Non Grata, Ordered to Leave Russia Within 7 Days Sputnik 12 Dec 2019 -- Russia has declared two employees of the German Embassy personae non grata, following a similar move by the country, and they should leave Russia within seven days, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
• Putin Says Berlin Murder Victim Was Among Organizers Of Moscow Metro Blast RFE/RL 10 Dec 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said the ethnic Chechen Georgian national murdered in Berlin this summer had been behind a Moscow metro blast.
• No Place for Right-Wing Extremists in Ranks, German Army Says VOA 07 Dec 2019 -- As reports about the threat of far-right recruitment among Europe's law enforcement and military grow, German armed forces, or Bundeswehr, told VOA that they are working to keep far-right extremists away from their units or to remove them once they have been identified.
• Remarks by President Trump and Chancellor Merkel of the Federal Republic of Germany Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 04 Dec 2019
• Germany Suspects 'Russia Link' To Ethnic Chechen's Killing In Berlin RFE/RL 03 Dec 2019 -- German federal prosecutors are preparing to take over the case related to the slaying of an ethnic Chechen Georgian national in Berlin this summer, according to media reports, amid suspicions that Russian intelligence was involved in the killing.
• Airbus Fires 16 Employees Over Accusations of Obtaining German Army Docs - Report Sputnik 01 Dec 2019 -- German prosecutors in September opened an investigation into suspected internal espionage by Airbus employees over two arms projects, Bild newspaper reported.

November

• Germany Removes Legal Hurdle For Russia's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Project RFE/RL 14 Nov 2019 -- Germany's parliament has passed an energy law that allows part of Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to skirt European rules that forbid one entity from the being both the producer and the supplier of natural gas.
• Germany Heading Toward New Arms Exports Record Sputnik 13 Nov 2019 -- Germany could break the defence export record it set four years ago when it sold $8.7 billion worth of weapons, according to the data shared by the Economy Ministry at a parliamentary request.
• Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran: France, Germany, UK and EU joint statement after 11 November IAEA report UK FCO 11 Nov 2019 -- French, German and UK Foreign Ministers and the EU High Representative statement after announcements that Iran is restarting uranium enrichment activities.
• Berlin Again Pushes Back On NATO Criticism, Citing Crucial U.S. Role RFE/RL 10 Nov 2019 -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas doubled down on Berlin's tough stance toward recent French criticism of NATO on November 10, warning that "neither Germany nor Europe will be able to effectively protect themselves" without the United States.
• Merkel Calls on Europe to Develop New Weapons Sputnik 10 Nov 2019 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on European states to develop new weapon systems, including military aircraft and tanks.
• Germany Thanks Eastern Europe On 30th Anniversary Of Fall Of Berlin Wall RFE/RL 09 Nov 2019 -- Germany has been marking the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanking Eastern European countries for making the peaceful revolution possible.
• Deutschland Uber Alles? German Military Budget May Overtake Russia's Over Next Decade Sputnik 09 Nov 2019 -- Despite spending nearly $50 billion on defence in 2018 as part of an overall NATO budget of over $1 trillion, Germany's military spending is just 1.35 percent of the country's total GDP, and therefore short of its commitments to its allies.
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo And German Chancellor Angela Merkel Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 08 Nov 2019 -- Remarks by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State
• Pompeo Blasts Russia, China in Berlin Speech VOA 08 Nov 2019 -- Three decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the United States said Washington and its allies are still confronting formidable adversaries, and the free world needs to continue to defend against threats from Russia and China.
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo And German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas At a Press Availability US Dept. of State 07 Nov 2019
• US, Germany Reaffirm Trans-Atlantic Partnership VOA 07 Nov 2019 -- The United States and Germany are reaffirming the strategic partnership and alliance under NATO, rejecting French President Emmanuel Macron's view that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is experiencing "brain death."
• Merkel Disagrees With Macron's 'Sweeping Judgement' That NATO is Experiencing 'Brain Death' Sputnik 07 Nov 2019 -- US President Donald Trump in July asked NATO countries to contribute more to the alliance in terms of defence spending, as it is not "fair" that "many countries [are] nowhere close to their 2% commitment" while "the US is paying for 90% of NATO".
• Secretary General thanks Chancellor Merkel for Germany's essential contributions to NATO NATO 07 Nov 2019 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Germany for its vital contributions to the Alliance in talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday (7 November 2019). Speaking at a press conference at the Chancellery, Mr. Stoltenberg praised Germany's leadership of multinational NATO forces in Lithuania, its hosting of the Alliance's new mobility command in Ulm, and its important contributions to NATO operations from Afghanistan to Kosovo and the Aegean Sea.

October

• Europe-US Communiqué on the Afghan Peace Process US Dept. of State 22 Oct 2019 -- The text of the following statement was agreed by Special Envoys and Special Representatives of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and the United States of America, when they met in EU Headquarters, Brussels on October 22, 2019.
• Engel & European Allies Condemn Turkey's Invasion of Northern Syria U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs 21 Oct 2109 -- Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement with his counterparts in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the European Parliament condemning Turkey's invasion of Northern Syria
• France, Germany suspend selling arms to Turkey over Syria operation Press TV 12 Oct 2019 -- France and Germany have announced that they are imposing an immediate halt to arms exports to Turkey over Ankara's continued war on Kurds in northern Syria.

September

• Remarks by Secretary Esper at an Enhanced Honor Cordon and Meeting Welcoming German Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer to the Pentagon DoD 23 Sep 2019 -- Secretary Of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper; German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper's Meeting with German Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer DoD 23 Sep 2019
• Esper Calls on Germany to Invest More in Defense DoD News 23 Sep 2019 -- Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper called on Germany to invest more money in defense during a meeting with that country's new defense minister at the Pentagon.
• Britain, France, Germany, Blame Iran For Saudi Attack, Urge Talks On Nuclear, Missile Issues RFE/RL 23 Sep 2019 -- The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany have backed the United States in assertions that Iran is to blame for the attack on Saudi oil facilities and urged Tehran to choose dialogue over "provocation."
• Germany, France removing obstacles to export jointly-manufactured weapons Press TV 21 Sep 2019 -- France and Germany say they are expected to sign an agreement on removing obstacles on exporting jointly-manufactured weapons to non-European and non-NATO countries.
• Fuel Tanks Break off From Tornado Fighter Mid-flight as Germany Seeks Replacement for Aging Jets Sputnik 20 Sep 2019 -- The Bundeswehr jet lost two 5.6-metre-long containers during a training exercise at an altitude of around 6,000 metres. The tanks, weighing 130 kilograms each, fell on a rural area of the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein.
• Germany extends ban on arms sales to Saudi for another 6 months Press TV 19 Sep 2019 -- The government of Angela Merkel has extended its ban on all German weapons exports to Saudi Arabia for a further six month-period despite some calls for loosening the restriction.
• China Scolds Germany Over Meeting with Hong Kong Activist VOA 11 Sep 2019 -- China has summoned Germany's ambassador in Beijing after a recent meeting between Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and Germany's foreign minister, declaring the meeting will damage bilateral relations.
• German Police Remove Personnel From Kabul After Taliban Attack - Reports Sputnik 08 Sep 2019 -- The German Federal Police and the country's Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) have removed the biggest part of their personnel from the Afghan capital in the wake of last week's deadly attacks by the Taliban, media reported.
• German Air Force Suffers Shortages Amid Failure to Meet NATO Spending Target – Reports Sputnik 04 Sep 2019 -- Washington has been very critical of Berlin in the past due to the latter's failure to meet NATO's defence spending target, with a shortage of planes also signaling Germany's inability to meet the required training practice for its pilots.
• Populists Surge in Germany's East VOA 02 Sep 2019 -- Regional government elections in Germany Sunday, in which the anti-immigrant, nationalist far-right AfD party surged in support, are testimony to a widening rift between the country's prosperous West and its struggling former Communist East, say analysts.

August

• Remarks by President Trump and Chancellor Merkel of the Federal Republic of Germany Before Bilateral Meeting | Biarritz, France The White House 26 Aug 2019
• German MP warns US has to take away nuclear weapons if it relocates troops to Poland Press TV 12 Aug 2019 -- A German lawmaker says the United States has to remove its nuclear weapons – presently kept in Germany– and take them to its own soil, in the event of relocating American troops from Germany to Poland.
• US threatens to withdraw troops from Germany over insufficient NATO spending Press TV 10 Aug 2019-- The US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, has warned that Washington will move American troops stationed in Germany to Poland if German Chancellor Angela Merkel fails to boost military spending as part of its contribution to the NATO military alliance.
• US Threats to Withdraw Its Troops From Germany Leave Gov't Coalition Split Sputnik 10 Aug 2019-- US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell has resumed criticising Berlin for failing to meet the NATO voluntary goal of 2% GDP spending on its military forces. He praised Donald Trump's idea to redeploy troops from Germany to Poland and insisted that it was time for Berlin to "pay for its own defence".
• German Agency Accidentally Spills State Secrets About Luftwaffe Defence Order Sputnik 08 Aug 2019 -- The operational status of the German air force has been the subject of severe criticism in recent weeks, with Luftwaffe chief Ingo Gerhartz recently admitting that the Luftwaffe was at a historical "low point."
• Bundeswehr Crisis: Germany Grounds All 'Tiger' Helicopters Amid String of Technical Mishaps Sputnik 08 Aug 2019 -- Earlier this week, Hans-Peter Bartels, chief of the German parliament's defence committee, said that the country's navy is running out of combat vessels, while German air force chief of staff Ingo Gerhartz admitted that currently, "the Luftwaffe is at a low point".
• Germany once again rejects possibility of joining US-led mission in Strait of Hormuz Press TV 05 Aug 2019 -- Germany has once again rejected a US proposal to join an American naval mission tasked with protecting vessels that pass through the Strait of Hormuz from an alleged Iranian threat.
• German Air Force Fails to Meet NATO Pilots' Training Requirements, Amid Shortage of Planes Sputnik 05 Aug 2019 -- Washington previously criticised Angela Merkel's government for not meeting NATO's requirement to spend 2% of GDP on defence but Germany's military budget has since fallen even further behind target.
• Merkel's 'Shakes' Perceived As EU Tremors In The Balkans RFE/RL 01 Aug 2019 -- Montenegrins eager for the political and economic benefits of closer cooperation with the European Union can use all the influential voices they can get in Brussels.
• U.S. Envoy Rebukes Germany On Hormuz Patrol Mission RFE/RL 01 Aug 2019 -- The U.S. ambassador to Germany chided Chancellor Angela Merkel's government for its reluctance to join a U.S.-led maritime patrol mission in the Strait of Hormuz, saying Europe's biggest economy must take on more responsibility.
• US Ambassador Lashes at Germany for Lack of Enthusiasm About Military Operation in Hormuz Sputnik 01 Aug 2019 -- The US invited Germany, along with other European states, to join a military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime oil transit route, but the offer was rejected, with Berlin instead opting for a peaceful solution to ensure the safety of civilian ships.
• German FM Rules Out Joining US Naval Mission in Hormuz Strait Sputnik 01 Aug 2019 -- Germany will not take part in the US-led mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Wednesday.

July

• Germany will not join US-led Persian Gulf patrol force: Maas Press TV 31 Jul 2019 -- Germany has officially turned down a request by the United States to join its international naval force, which is supposed to protect vessels from an alleged Iranian threat as they pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Germany 'Reluctant' On U.S. Plan For Naval Patrols Off Iran RFE/RL 31 Jul 2019 -- Germany is "reluctant" to join a proposed U.S.-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz but would consider participating in a European mission, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government said July 31.
• Germany Refuses to Join US Naval Mission in Strait of Hormuz VOA 31 Jul 2019 -- Germany has rejected the U.S. call to join an international mission to protect maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Germany turns down US proposal for Persian Gulf maritime coalition Press TV 30 Jul 2019 -- Germany says it has rejected a proposal by the United States to set up a military coalition in the Persian Gulf to counter what it calls the "Iran threat" as tensions mount between Washington and Tehran.
• 'Germany Made No Promises': Berlin Rejects US Anti-Iran Maritime Coalition Proposal Sputnik 30 Jul 2019 -- Earlier, both German and British officials said they did not support the US's "maximum pressure" strategy against Tehran, instead welcoming an operation proposed by London for a European-led security effort to "protect" commercial vessels operating in the Persian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz.
• US Asks Germany to Help Secure Strait of Hormuz VOA 30 Jul 2019 -- The U.S. has officially asked Germany to help secure the strategic Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran in the midst of heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf region.
• Germany Resolves Its Latest Military Aviation Glitch as It Airlifts Troops to Lithuania Sputnik 29 Jul 2019 -- The past few years have seen a spate of German military aviation mishaps; the latest such incident took place last Saturday when a Bundeswehr transport wing kept an Airbus A310 at its base near Cologne due to a suspected engine malfunction.
• Germany rebuffs US strategy of 'maximum pressure' against Iran Press TV 27 Jul 2019 -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has reiterated its opposition to the US policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran, highlighting the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the region.
• Berlin Brushes Aside US 'Maximum Pressure' Plan for Iran, Demands European Approach to Gulf Op Sputnik 27 Jul 2019 -- Following incidents involving commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, Washington has invited its allies to take part in a mission in the region to protect freedom of navigation there together. Germany, however, seems more open to a similar plan proposed by the UK.
• 'Bottomless Barrel': Price for German Puma Combat Vehicle's Development Doubles - Report Sputnik 21 Jul 2019 -- Puma is a German mechanised infantry combat vehicle developed and issued by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall-Landsysteme. The German Federal Armed Forces received the first Puma prototype in 2010 and mass-produced deliveries began in April 2015.
• Germany - Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missiles Segment Enhanced DSCA 12 Jul 2019 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Germany of Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) Missiles Segment Enhanced (MSE) with support for an estimated cost of $401 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 12, 2019.
• Berlin rejects Washington's call for deploying ground forces to Syria Press TV 08 Jul 2019 -- Germany has rejected a call by the United States to deploy ground troops in Syria, a stance that will most likely anger US President Donald Trump who wants the European country to commit to a bigger military role in the Middle East.
• Germany Rejects US Call to Deploy Ground Troops in Syria Sputnik 08 Jul 2019 -- US special envoy for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey earlier relayed a formal request to Berlin calling on the country to deploy troops to the Arab Republic to "partially replace" US forces and help the remainder fight Daesh*.
• Chinese, German army medics start joint exercise in Feldkirchen Global Times 05 Jul 2019 -- The medical services of the Chinese and German armed forces started an integrated exercise on medical support in Germany's southern military base of Feldkirchen on Friday.
• China, Germany to hold joint military exercise on medical support People's Daily 03 Jul 2019 -- Chinese and German militaries will hold a joint exercise on medical support from July 3 to 17 in Munich, Germany, said a source with the Health Bureau of the Logistic Support Department of the Central Military Commission of China Tuesday.
• Helicopter Crashes in German City of Aerzen, Leaves 1 Dead - Reports Sputnik 01 Jul 2019 -- The news comes after another incident occurred in northeastern Germany last Monday when two unarmed Eurofighter Typhoon jets collided over Fleesensee. As a result, one pilot managed to parachute to safety, while the second died.

June

• Germany Plans to Cut Military Spending in 2020-2023 in Affront to US - Report Sputnik 30 Jun 2019 -- Germany's defence budget has been an apple of discord in relations between Berlin and Washington as the US president has repeatedly criticised its ally across the Atlantic for missing the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on the armed forces.
• US Pressing Germany for Extending Its Military Action in Syria – Report Sputnik 29 Jun 2019 -- US officials allegedly want the German military to continue their missions in the country, as well as deploy forces on the ground. If the German government pursues the move, it could put the CDU/CSU bloc on a collision course with the Social Democrats, who want their country to pull forces out of Syria.
• US Approves $122Mln Sale of Tactical Missiles to Germany - Pentagon Sputnik 29 Jun 2019 -- The United States has approved a sale of tactical missiles worth more than $122 million to Germany, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a press release on Friday.
• Germany through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) - AGM-88E AARGM Missiles DSCA 28 Jun 2019 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Germany, through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) acting as its Agent, up to ninety-one (91) AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) Tactical Missiles, and up to eight (8) AGM-88E AARGM Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM) for an estimated cost of $122.86 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Acting Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper's meeting with German Minister of Defense Ursula Von der Leyen DoD 27 Jun 2019
• German Intelligence Agency Claims Russia Uses Sputnik, RT as Tools for 'Subtle' Influence Sputnik 27 Jun 2019 -- Russia has been seeking to "exert subtle influence" on Germans to sway their opinion through its main state-run media outlets, including RT Deutsch and the Sputnik news agency, Germany's domestic intelligence service, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), said in its 2018 report on Thursday.
• One pilot dead as Eurofighter jets crash over eastern Germany Press TV 24 Jun 2019 -- One pilot was killed after two Eurofighter warplanes crashed over northeastern Germany, N-TV television reported, while the pilot of the other jet was reported as having parachuted to safety.
• Two Euro Fighters Crash Into Each Other in Northern Germany - Reports Sputnik 24 Jun 2019 -- Media outlets have reported that the pilots were able to safely eject, but the crash has started a forest fire in the area. Rescue service troops have arrived at the site of the incident.
• Airbus welcomes Franco-German decision to onboard Spain as partner in Future Combat Air System programme Airbus 17 Jun 2019 -- At the 2019 Paris Air Show, the Governments of France and Germany officially welcomed Spain as a partner nation in the sixth-generation Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme.
• Industrial agreement, offers delivered to France and Germany: Dassault Aviation and Airbus achieve next decisive milestone for Future Combat Air System programme Dassault Aviation 17 Jun 2019 -- Dassault Aviation and Airbus SE have delivered a joint industrial proposal to the governments of France and Germany for the first Demonstrator Phase of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
• Merkel Agrees to Boost German Military Spending Amid Trump's Pressure Sputnik 15 Jun 2019 -- Last year, US President Donald Trump pressured other NATO members to pump up their military spending to a voluntary goal of 2% GDP set in 2014, arguing that the US is bearing the brunt of the burden in the alliance, while others underperform.
• German and French Positions at Odds Over Turkey's Purchase of Russian S-400 Systems Sputnik 14 Jun 2019 -- The Turkish foreign minister recently blasted US attempts to impose an ultimatum on Turkey over its S-400 purchase, noting that no foreign state has the right to tell Ankara what it should or shouldn't do.
• Germany Joins Race to Acquire Laser 'Weapon of the Future' - Reports Sputnik 14 Jun 2019 -- Along with the US, Russia, and China, Germany will join the club of countries aiming to acquire high-energy laser weapons. The outlet Die Welt reports that the German Navy is just a step away from equipping one of its warships with a laser cannon.
• EU cannot be blackmailed on Brexit: Germany Press TV 11 Jun 2019 -- Germany's Europe Minister Michael Roth has warned Britain that a new prime minister in the country will not be allowed to pressure the European Union to change the terms of an existing withdrawal deal for the UK.
• German FM hopes INSTEX to operate soon with first transaction IRNA 11 Jun 2019 -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas hoped on Tuesday that the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) would operate soon with first transaction.
• Leader Of Merkel's CDU Rejects Call To Ease Sanctions On Russia RFE/RL 09 Jun 2019 -- The leader of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) has rejected a call by a fellow party member to ease sanctions pressure on Russia, saying they should remain until Moscow changes its behavior in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
• US Pushes Germany to Remain in Syria for Spy, Training Missions – Report Sputnik 08 Jun 2019 -- Germany has been taking part in the US-led coalition in Syria since 2015, helping the allies with reconnaissance and mid-air refuelling. The German jets and soldiers, now based in Jordan, were set to leave the country this year. However, Washington has reportedly tried to persuade Berlin to stay to assist in a safe zone in northern Syria.
• NATO Spearhead Force deploys to test readiness NATO 06 Jun 2019 -- A force of 2,500 German, Dutch and Norwegian troops and 1,000 vehicles is currently taking part in exercise Noble Jump 19 at the Zagan training range in Western Poland. Noble Jump is the main training opportunity for NATO's Spearhead Force, the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), and tests how well its different units work together.
• Germany to approve first millions for French-German fighter aircraft system Global Times 06 Jun 2019 -- The budget committee of the German Bundestag is to approve the first 32.5 million euros (36.6 million U.S. dollars) for the new French-German fighter aircraft system FCAS, German media reported on Wednesday.
• Germany Orders Development of Hypersonic Missile to Counter Certain 'Threats' Sputnik 06 Jun 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin presented an array of cutting-edge weaponry, including hypersonic missiles, in 2018, with some of them being unique in the world.

May

• US Secretary of State Discusses Iran, China While Meeting German Officials VOA 31 May 2019 -- In his first visit to Germany as U.S. secretary of state, Mike Pompeo met Friday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin for talks that focused on Iran and China.
• Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and German Chancellor Angela Merkel Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 31 May 2019 -- Remarks by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State
• Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo And German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas At a Joint Press Availability US Dept. of State 31 May 2019 -- Press Availability by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State and Heiko Maas, German Foreign Minister
• France, Germany Call For Resumed Ukraine Peace Talks During Visit To Kyiv RFE/RL 30 May 2019 -- France and Germany are seeking the resumption of stalled peace talks for the bloody conflict in eastern Ukraine, the Western nations' foreign ministers say.
• Germany in Secret Talks With US on Military Support in Syria – Report Sputnik 30 May 2019 -- Ahead of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to Berlin, the German outlet Spiegel reported that Washington has been urging Berlin to support a buffer zone in northern Syria. The zone is meant to shield the Kurds, whose militia has been supported by the US, from both Turkey and the government forces of Bashar Assad.
• German, Uzbek Presidents Discuss Cooperation In Tashkent RFE/RL 28 May 2019 -- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev have discussed bilateral cooperation in the Uzbek capital on the second day of Steinmeier's three-day official visit to Central Asia's most populous country.
• Hundreds of German Soldiers 'Unfit for Service' After Foreign Missions – Report Sputnik 27 May 2019 -- The state of the German military has repeatedly been a subject of controversy amid regular reports of equipment and supply problems, as well as complaints of underfunding.
• Germany-China tensions rise over military snooping claims Press TV 26 May 2019 -- A diplomatic row is brewing between Germany and China over allegations of Chinese reporters snooping around a military base during a visit by Chancellor Angela Merkel this month.
• Berlin to Give Largest Boost to Defence Expenditure Since Cold War - Reports Sputnik 17 May 2019 -- Germany has informed NATO of its plans to spend 47.3 billion euros ($52.8 billion) on defence in 2019, the most significant increase to its national defence expenditure since the end of the Cold War, but will still fall short of the alliance's 2 percent of GDP guideline, n-tv broadcaster reported.
• Germany to Resume Training Troops in North Iraq Amid US-Iran Tensions - Reports Sputnik 17 May 2019 -- Germany will resume training Iraqi and Kurdish soldiers in northern Iraq, the German Defence Ministry was reported as saying on Friday, three days after Berlin halted training missions over tensions between Iran and the United States.
• Egyptian Navy Receives 3rd of 4 Type 209 Submarines Ordered in Germany - Reports Sputnik 04 May 2019 -- The third diesel-electric submarine of the Type 209 project, built by Egypt's order in Germany, was transferred to the Egyptian Navy on Friday, the Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper reported.
• Britain, France, Germany Vie for Influence in Africa VOA 03 May 2019 -- Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel are conducting separate visits to Africa this week, the latest in a flurry of visits by European leaders and officials as Western states look to expand their engagement on issues like trade, migration and security.
• Germany, Norway Seeking to 'Plot a Path' for Joint Sub Programme – Report Sputnik 01 May 2019 -- The submarine programme dates back to 2017, when then-Norwegian Defence Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide and her German counterpart Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen agreed to develop bilateral cooperation on naval defence equipment.

April

• US Defence Giant Blasts Germany's Refusal to Buy F-35s as 'Retrograde Step' Sputnik 30 Apr 2019 -- Germany has been fiercely criticised by US President Donald Trump for failing to comply with the NATO spending target of two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence. Berlin's decision against purchasing Lockheed Martin's stealth combat aircraft has further strained the already tense relations between the NATO allies.
• Germany approves weapon supplies to Saudi Arabia, UAE: Der Spiegel Press TV 12 Apr 2019 -- Germany's National Security Council has reportedly approved the provision of certain weapons and arms technology to the two main aggressor regimes involved in a deadly war on Yemen, namely Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite a ban imposed earlier on arms exports to Riyadh.
• Germany Grounds Military Flights to Afghanistan – Reports Sputnik 07 Apr 2019 -- Germany has grounded military flights to a training camp in Afghanistan until the end of April after Azerbaijan closed airspace to NATO planes, Spiegel said Sunday.
• Berlin's Military Budget Endangers NATO - German MP Sputnik 07 Apr 2019 -- Earlier in April, US President Donald Trump rebuked Germany for "not paying their fair share" to NATO as Berlin now plans to spend 1.25 per cent of its gross domestic product on the alliance's needs by 2024, which is lower than the two per cent guideline.
• Pence slams Germany's unacceptable Russia ties, NATO spending Press TV 04 Apr 2019 -- US Vice President Mike Pence has blasted as "unacceptable" Germany's dependence on Russian energy and its failure to meet its military spending commitments as a key member of the NATO military alliance.
• U.S. Vice President Warns Turkey, Germany Over Dealings With Russia RFE/RL 03 Apr 2019 -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has warned Turkey and Germany about their dealings with Russia, telling Ankara it is "reckless" and warning Berlin it risks becoming a "captive" of Moscow.

March

• Germany extends ban on Saudi arms sale by 6 months despite France, UK criticism Press TV 29 Mar 2019 -- Germany has extended its ban on all arms exports to Saudi Arabia for a further six months, in a move which drew criticism from fellow European arms exporters, including France and Britain.
• Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Embraer equip the Brazilian Navy for the future thyssenkrupp 29 Mar 2019 -- The consortium guas Azuis was selected as the preferred bidder for the construction of four new corvettes of the Tamandar class.
• Germany Investigates Submarine Sale to Israel Over Bribery Allegations - Reports Sputnik 26 Mar 2019 -- The probe into a purportedly corrupt deal worth $2 billion to purchase submarines and naval vessels from German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp, known as Case 3000, has involved top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• Germany Plans to Cut Military Budget in Spite of US Calls to Reach NATO Target Sputnik 19 Mar 2019 -- Berlin's failure to meet the alliance's agreement to spend 2% of GDP on defence has been a source of tension between Germany and the US. Angela Merkel earlier pledged to boost military spending up to 1.5 percent of GDP by 2024. But the budget plan, introduced in Berlin, suggests that the expenditures will be decreasing after a rise next year.
• Germany extends ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia Press TV 06 Mar 2019 -- Germany has extended a ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia imposed over the kingdom's deadly campaign against Yemen and the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
• Germany Prolongs Ban on Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia Until End of March Sputnik 06 Mar 2019 -- The German government has decided to extend the embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia until the end of March, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday.
• Germany May Extend Ban on Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia Beyond Deadline - Reports Sputnik 01 Mar 2019 -- The German government is considering the possibility of extending its halt on arms sales to Saudi Arabia for two weeks, with the current deadline set for March 9, German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday, citing sources.

February

• RAF Brize Norton hosts inaugural UK-Germany Defence Ministerial Council UK MOD 28 Feb 2019 -- RAF Brize Norton played host to discussions between the two NATO allies on co-operation on areas ranging from Baltic Air Policing to countering nefarious cyber activity.
• Germany's SPD to extend freeze on arms sales to Riyadh Press TV 25 Feb 2019 -- The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), which is part of the ruling coalition, says it has plans to extend an embargo on arms supplies to Saudi Arabia despite pressure from major European countries not to do so.
• Britain and Germany: an alliance of values UK FCO 20 Feb 2019 -- Speech by the Foreign Secretary to the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Berlin.
• UK Foreign Secretary Warns Germany Over Stop in Arms Sales to Saudis – Reports Sputnik 20 Feb 2019 -- UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has slammed Berlin's embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia for hurting British exports, in a letter to his German counterpart seen by media.
• UK lashes out at Germany over Saudi arms sales ban Press TV 20 Feb 2019 -- Britain has strongly objected to Germany's recent decision to bar arms and military cooperation deals with Saudi Arabia, warning that the new policy damages Berlin's security commitments while adversely affecting the British military industry.
• Germany's Merkel Warns U.S. Against Withdrawing From Syria, Afghanistan RFE/RL 16 Feb 2019 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that a hasty U.S. pullout from Syria runs the risk of strengthening the roles of Russia and Iran in the Middle East.
• World needs constructive dialogue with Iran: German FM Press TV 16 Feb 2019 -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has reiterated the global need for engaging with Iran on sensitive issues, including crises in the Middle Eastern countries.
• EU, Germany reject US' call for leaving JCPOA Press TV 16 Feb 2019 -- Germany and the European Union on Friday rejected a call by US Vice President Mike Pence for Europe to follow in the US' footsteps and leave the Iran nuclear deal in a bid to "isolate" the Islamic Republic.
• Merkel supports JCPOA at Munich's annual security conference IRNA 16 Feb 2019 -- On the second day of the three-day Munich security conference in Germany, the Chancellor of Germany called into question the decision of the United States to leave Syria and referred to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as efficient agreement.
• Readout of Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan's Meeting With German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen DoD 14 Feb 2019
• Paris, Berlin Take First Step Toward Jet That Will Replace Rafale, Eurofighters Sputnik 08 Feb 2019 -- Paris and Berlin, which have pushed the idea of creating a joint European army, unveiled their ambitious goal to design the new Future Combat Air System (FCAS), including a fighter and associated weapons in July 2017. It has taken them almost two years to proceed to taking concrete steps.
• German Forces Begin Training Courses on Armed Israeli Surveillance Drones Sputnik 05 Feb 2019 -- German forces recently began a training course at the Tel Nof airbase in Rehovot, Israel, in an effort to learn the surveillance capabilities of the costly Heron TP unmanned surveillance drone.
• Germany Says Nein to US F-35 Jets, to Choose Between Boeing and Airbus – Report Sputnik 01 Feb 2019 -- Pressed with billions in maintenance costs, the necessity of fulfilling its NATO obligations and carrying US nuclear bombs, Berlin is seeking the most optimal replacement for their Tornado and old Eurofighter jet fleet. In spite of earlier plans, the $3.4 billion in orders will fly by US-based Martin Lockheed, recent reports suggest.

January

• Joint statement on the creation of INSTEX, the special purpose vehicle aimed at facilitating legitimate trade with Iran in the framework of the efforts to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Germany Federal Foreign Office 31 Jan 2019 -- Joint statement by the E3 Foreign Ministers Jean-Yves Le Drian (France), Heiko Maas (Germany), Jeremy Hunt (United Kingdom)
• Berlin set to sell weapons to Doha amid tension with Riyadh Press TV 25 Jan 2019 -- Germany has approved exporting military equipment to Qatar amid deepening tensions with Riyadh, Doha's rival.
• Uzbek President Seeks Improved Ties With Germany During Visit RFE/RL 22 Jan 2019 -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev, in Germany as part of his bid to end long years of relative isolation for his Central Asian country, says he wants to bring relations with Germany to "a tangibly new and higher level."
• Iran denies Germany summoned envoy over military spy case Press TV 21 Jan 2019 -- Iran has dismissed reports that Germany summoned its charge d'affairs over Berlin's arrest of a German-Afghan dual national accused of spying for Tehran.
• German arms manufacturer may sue Berlin over halt in arms sales to Saudi Arabia Press TV 21 Jan 2019 -- A major German arms manufacturer has threatened legal action against the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel over its decision to suspend all weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the assassination of a dissident journalist in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
• German Gov't Faces Suit for Banning Arms Export to Saudi Arabia – Reports Sputnik 21 Jan 2019 -- Angela Merkel's cabinet stopped military supplies to Saudi Arabia and called on other countries to do the same following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh's consulate in Turkey.
• Merkel calls for EU weapons system independent of US Press TV 20 Jan 2019 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on EU countries to share their capabilities in order to build weapons systems independent of the United States.
• Germany Detains Man Suspected Of Spying For Iran RFE/RL 15 Jan 2019 -- German authorities say they have detained a 50-year old Afghan-German dual national suspected of passing data to an Iranian intelligence agency.
• Military Staffer Arrested in Germany on Suspicion of Spying for Iran Sputnik 15 Jan 2019 -- The Bundeswehr has found itself in the centre of a spy scandal after the respected German weekly Der Spiegel reported that the intelligence service of the Islamic Republic of Iran recruited a German trooper years ago. The man with Afghan roots worked as a translator and had access to sensitive information.
• European Army 'Already Taking Shape' – German Defence Minister Sputnik 11 Jan 2019 -- In early November 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the creation of what he touted as a "true European army" which he said would protect the interests of the bloc. The proposal was supported by German Chancellor Angela Merkel but criticised by British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.
• Germany Says U.S. Sanctions Against Gas Pipeline 'Not The Way To Go' RFE/RL 11 Jan 2019 -- U.S. sanctions against the Moscow-backed Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline project would be the wrong way to solve a dispute over energy supply, according to German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
• Germany to Kick Off Jet Training Flights Over Estonia Next Week - Statement Sputnik 07 Jan 2019 -- German Eurofighter jets on a NATO air policing mission in the Baltic States will conduct daily low-altitude training flights over Estonia from Monday to Friday, the Estonian Defence Forces said in a statement.
• German Politicians' Data Hacked, Posted on Twitter VOA 04 Jan 2019 -- The private data of hundreds of German politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, has been hacked and posted on Twitter, the government said.
• Berlin Asks Top US Spy Agency to Help Investigate Mass Governmental Hack Sputnik 04 Jan 2019 -- While Germany seeks assistance from the other side of the Atlantic, the hack is being investigated by a number of domestic agencies, including the Federal Office for Information Security, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
• Germany steps up to lead NATO high readiness force NATO 01 Jan 2019 -- German forces on Tuesday (1 January 2019) took the lead for NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), providing thousands of soldiers to be on standby and ready to deploy within days. Germany takes over from Italy, which provided the VJTF lead brigade in 2018.