Maritime security: Germany joins forces against global threats!

Maritime security: Germany joins forces against global threats!

On September 24, 2025, the sixth Maritime Security Network Meeting (NwTr MarSi) took place in Berlin, organized by the Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVg) in cooperation with the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Maritime Security (iFMS) at the Helmut Schmidt University/University of the Bundeswehr Hamburg. This meeting, which has been held regularly since 2018, brings together representatives from politics, authorities, the Bundeswehr, science and business to promote security in the maritime area.

The central goal of the meeting is to create a common understanding and strengthen interdepartmental cooperation as well as to provide impetus for the security policy debate in Germany. The event was divided into two parts: a working workshop at the BMVg and a public panel discussion in the evening. Topics at the meeting included current and future threats to Germany's maritime security as well as the development of a national maritime security strategy.

Current threats and strategic approaches

Discussions focused on the need for an integrated security strategy. Maritime security includes much more than defending against classic threats at sea: it protects the economic foundations, energy supply, communication and the environment. At the networking evening, various speakers, including State Secretary Dr. Claudia Stutz and Karina Würtz from the Offshore Wind Energy Foundation raised the central question of what legal framework and responsibilities are necessary to effectively counter current threats.

The participants in the working groups worked on the identified risks and threats in the maritime area as well as on the topics and goals of a German maritime security strategy. A unified approach to strengthening maritime security was seen as extremely positive, as closer interdepartmental cooperation and clear prioritization were called for.

National security strategy and its dimensions

In the context of the discussion about maritime security, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the first national security strategy for Germany, which was developed in collaboration with several ministries. This strategy, which takes a more comprehensive approach than previous White Papers, is intended to be a continuous process, covering all levels of government, business and society.

The strategy encompasses three central dimensions: resilience, resilience and sustainability. “Fitness” refers to the protection and defense of Germany as well as the strengthening of the Bundeswehr. “Resilience” aims to protect the basic democratic order and reduce one-sided dependencies in the supply of raw materials and energy. The “sustainability” dimension focuses on combating the climate crisis and strengthening global food security. Integrated security also includes the areas of diplomacy, police, fire services and cyber security, which requires a holistic view of the security situation in Germany.

The network meeting and the progress in maritime security are part of a larger security policy discourse in Germany that is shaped by the current geopolitical challenges. The exchange at the meeting offers a platform to jointly develop solutions and significantly strengthen security in the maritime space. The results and impulses from these discourses will play an essential role for Germany's future maritime security strategy.

For more information about the Maritime Security Network Meeting and its outcomes, please visit HSU Hamburg. Further details on the political discussions can be found at Sebastian Hartmann, and provides a broader context for national security strategy Federal Government.