Germany launches National Security Council to boost crisis response, strategy

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced the creation of Germany’s first-ever National Security Council (NSC), designed to streamline and strengthen the country’s approach to defence and security policy.

Described by officials as the “new nucleus of Germany’s security architecture,” the NSC consolidates the functions of two former bodies—the Federal Security Council, which oversaw arms exports and defence policies, and the Security Cabinet, convened for crisis decision-making. This integration aims to enhance both strategic foresight and rapid response capabilities within Germany’s security framework, Euractiv reports.

Merz emphasized the council’s broad remit, stating it will oversee “long-term planning for the country’s integrated security policy” as well as “cross-cutting issues of national security, at the intersection of internal, external, economic, and digital security.” He underscored the urgency of the move in light of evolving threats: “We must become faster, more creative, and more decisive by hardening our infrastructure, improving our coordination, and making our society more resilient overall.”

The NSC will convene regularly to address strategic security issues and can be rapidly mobilized in times of crisis. German officials argue that uniting these responsibilities within a standing body will significantly enhance the “professionalisation of Germany’s security architecture.”

A primary function of the council will be strategic foresight: “to identify medium- and long-term threat scenarios, develop options for action and make the necessary preparations,” according to government sources. Coordination of the council’s activities will be led by Jacob Schrot, chief of staff in Merz’s chancellery.

Membership will include Chancellor Merz and nine cabinet-level ministers, with additional participation from security and intelligence officials, representatives from Germany’s 16 federal states, and partners such as NATO and the European Union invited as needed.

Highlighting the shift from fragmented approaches, security expert Christina Moritz remarked, “The time when we first had to call all the ministries to get a picture of a crisis is over. This is the era of general, proactive, society-wide resilience – and of short communication channels.” She added, “The EU and NATO expect a great deal from Germany, and as a central point of contact, a National Security Council can help raise broad awareness.”

The NSC’s formation also marks a departure from past political disagreements. Plans for such a body had been proposed alongside Germany’s 2023 National Security Strategy but were stalled due to disputes between former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats and coalition partner the Greens. With Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats now firmly in control of foreign policy, the initiative has successfully advanced.

While Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger will be included in the council, climate security—previously integrated into national security discussions—will no longer be a primary focus.

By Vafa Guliyeva