The German Government recently formulated the interests, principles and central areas of German policy in the Indo-Pacific region. The new guidelines are also a contribution to a possible European Union (EU) overall strategy for the region, the country’s Ministry of Defense stated on September 2.

The German Navy (Deutsche Marine)’s Berlin Type 702 replenishment ship today left its home port of Wilhelmshaven for the Aegean Sea. During five months, it will join the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Brandenburg-class frigate involved in the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2).

The Frankfurt am Main (A1412) combat support vessel, the largest ship class in the German Navy, arrived on Feb. 17 in Kiel in preparation for the deployment of the integrated Naval Rescue Centre (iMERZ). New cranes and a launching device for the tenders are also to be integrated.

The German Defense Ministry announced on Oct. 31 it will procure a further two Type 212 submarines, in a global move to invest ten billion euros in new equipment in 2020.