Germany’s positioning in the triangular relations with Russia and the US: towards a (new) European security order?

Abstract

Growing great power competition, a changing security environment and the acclaimed de-institutionalisation of security policy in the twenty-first century demand adaptations in national security approaches and institutional settings. States have benefitted differently from the post-Cold War European security order. While Germany presents itself as a prime beneficiary from Europe’s multilateral structures, the US has sought to shift its focus away from Europe, and Russia’s foreign policy has become increasingly aggressive, eventually culminating in the return of war to Europe. Such developments lead to new transformations and fundamental re-arrangements of the present security order that require states to rethink their national foreign and security policies and relationships. This article examines the relations between Germany, Russia and the US using the analytical concept of triangular relations. Used as an analytical tool, the examination of the Germany–Russia–US triangular relationship helps to investigate and trace how we got to the contemporary European security order.