Many German politicians were caught off guard by the Russian invasion, she says.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a major, sudden shift in German defence spending and its policy not to send weapons to aid the Ukrainian government. Marina Henke, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Hertie School Centre for International Security explains this gearshift, which is a historical turning point for Germany, in an opinion piece in The Washington Post.
"Feelings of guilt and shame for having trusted Putin and misread the situation thus became important factors that help explain the monumental shift in German security and defense policy," she writes.
Read the full article in English here.
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Marina Henke, Professor of International Relations | Director, Centre for International Security