F125 Baden-Württemberg-class frigate of the German Navy.

By Wang Changfan

According to foreign media reports, German Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack recently said that the German Navy will deploy one frigate and one replenishment ship to the Asia-Pacific region this year. This marks another deployment of the German Navy in the region following the dispatch of a frigate in 2021, attracting attention from the international community.

As early as June 2023, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the dispatch of two warships to the Asia-Pacific region in 2024. After long-term planning, the operation plan has basically taken shape.

The frigate planned for deployment by Germany this time is the F125 Baden-Württemberg. This ship is Germany's new generation of main frigates and is mainly used for medium to low-intensity maritime operations. The replenishment ship for deployment is the Berlin-class Frankfurt replenishment ship. This ship is the largest replenishment ship in active service in Germany and can be used for replenishing water, food, fuel, and ammunition, and performing medical rescue missions. Currently, the German Navy is still coordinating the specific countries and ports for docking. Kaack revealed that Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, and Hawaii of the US will all be visited or supplied during this deployment.

The German Navy has listed this deployment as one of the three priorities for 2024. The two ships dispatched this time will not only participate in regional joint exercises such as Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC) but also independently carry out patrol missions.

The German Navy's redeployment to the Asia-Pacific region warrants deep consideration.

On one hand, Germany deepens multilateral cooperation and strengthens its regional military presence. The direct purpose of Germany's deployment this time is to strengthen defense ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Germany has actively engaged in multilateral military cooperation and focused on enhancing exchanges with countries in the Asia-Pacific region in recent years. Since 2006, Germany has provided Singapore with Leopard 2 main battle tanks and related training and has also sold four Type 218SG submarines to Singapore. In 2023, Germany dispatched personnel to participate in the Talisman Sabre multinational exercise held in Australia. Germany also signed with Japan military cooperation agreements such as the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), the Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, and the Agreement on the Security of Information. Overall, Germany has continuously enhanced its level of military cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region through various means such as arms sales, joint exercises, and agreement signings to strengthen its military presence.

On the other hand, Germany implements the Asia-Pacific strategy and expands regional influence. In 2020, the German government issued the report Germany – Europe – Asia: shaping the 21st century together, clearly stating that the Asia-Pacific region is a priority agenda for German foreign policy. Subsequently, the German Navy's F123 Brandenburg-class frigate Bayern made its first deployment to the Asia-Pacific region in nearly 20 years. This planned deployment is another concrete measure of Germany's continued implementation of its Asia-Pacific strategy. Especially after the introduction of the first National Security Strategy in 2023, Germany's security concept has shifted from single military security to a comprehensive security concept that includes economic security. It is paying close attention to the Asia-Pacific region, where economy and trade are more active, and hopes to expand its influence in the region.

Defense experts pointed out that the German Navy is relatively weak, and even if it dispatches the latest frigates, its influence will be very limited. An EU report pointed out that in the event of a conflict, the EU's fleet in the Asia-Pacific region would play almost no role, not to mention Germany's small fleet. The German Navy's carefully planned deployment in the Asia-Pacific may only have symbolic significance.