The world order is becoming increasingly fragmented. War is back on the international political agenda, and with it a new type of violent actor: the state warlord, who resorts to the threat and use of force to advance power and profit interests. These new warlords—primarily autocracies or states in democratic decline—exploit the weaknesses of existing rules and institutions, further deepening them. They have unleashed forms of military violence that must be stopped if we are to prevent the collapse of the world order and its rules-based framework.
Germany should work with the European Union and the United Kingdom to initiate new alliances enabling states to counter the “new warlordism” we are seeing among major and middle powers. Potential partner countries could be India, Brazil, South Africa, and Canada.
By selectively denouncing breaches of international law while, through evasive language, appearing to tolerate violations by allies such as the United States and Israel, Germany risks undermining its credibility as an international actor.
Germany must firmly oppose any recognition of territorial gains in Ukraine achieved through the use or threat of force. Israeli land seizures in Palestine must likewise be condemned.
The German government must work with like-minded states to preserve and strengthen the United Nations’ (UN) capacity to act in the fields of prevention, mediation, and peace, and to enhance the effectiveness of arms control institutions.
Germany must provide strong political and financial support to the International Criminal Court and United Nations humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
Rival structures to the UN and short-term initiatives such as Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” must be categorically rejected by all EU member states. Within the UN, the General Assembly must be strengthened.
Interests must not be pitted against values. When development cooperation becomes merely a tool to curb migration, secure raw materials, or make geopolitical deals, it can no longer fulfil its purpose of building and sustaining peace.
In the field of artificial intelligence, Europe must reduce its dependence on the USA and China. Priority must be given to securing access to critical raw materials and computing resources, as well as to building resilient value chains.
Germany must work to establish and maintain the foundations for robust arms control, especially in this era of new arms races. This requires a flexible arms control framework that takes emerging weapons systems and digital capabilities into account.
Twenty-five years after 9/11, a transparent and uncompromising evaluation of the security legislation introduced since then is long overdue. Besides assessing the appropriateness and effectiveness of these measures, it is also important to examine whether, where, and how racism has been perpetuated.