An army of partnerships
The Bundeswehr cooperates very closely with its international allies.
Germany’s Federal Armed Forces - the Bundeswehr - comprise the Army, Air Force and Navy, plus the Cyber and Information Domain Service, and have close ties to other forces within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Some examples:
integration of the Netherlands Army
The cooperation between the Bundeswehr and the Netherlands Armed Forces goes the furthest. All three brigades of the Netherlands Army are integrated into German divisions. At the same time, German air defence forces are under Dutch command - this is also planned for the German naval infantry. This integration is regarded as a role model for a European defence union.
The Franco-German Brigade
Established in 1989, the Franco-German Brigade is a prime example of the close military cooperation between the two countries. Some units of this major binational brigade with its 5,000 or so troops also take part in international missions.
The brigade in Lithuania
In response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, NATO is stepping up its presence in eastern Europe. The Bundeswehr is responsible there for leading the Multinational Battlegroup in Lithuania, which is made up of troops from various NATO states. In the near future, the Bundeswehr will permanently station a heavy combat brigade there.
German-Polish cooperation in the Multinational Corps
The Multinational Corps Northeast in the Polish city of Szczecin is first and foremost a headquarters under alternating Polish and German command. It coordinates the deployment of units from many NATO countries, though mainly from Poland and Germany. Furthermore, the Bundeswehr’s Patriot systems repeatedly support Poland’s air defence.
Cooperation with the US Air Force
The Bundeswehr’s cooperation with the US Air Force is a good example of the way it works together with its NATO allies. The partnership encompasses joint exercises, exchange programmes and the shared use of infrastructure. This fosters collaboration between the armed forces and transatlantic relations.
In addition to such bi- and multilateral cooperation, the Bundeswehr is involved in numerous international missions - for example under the umbrella of the United Nations, NATO or the European Union.
