Germany’s naval deployment deepens ties in Southeast Asia

Maria T. Reyes

Germany has taken another significant step in reestablishing its presence in the Indo-Pacific with the recent deployment of naval assets to Malaysia and the Philippines. The visits were Germany’s first naval engagements with those Southeast Asian countries in over two decades and signal Berlin’s strategic shift toward a more active role in bolstering regional security cooperation amid mounting tensions in the South China Sea.

The German Navy frigate FGS Baden-Württemberg and fleet oiler Frankfurt am Main made port calls in the Philippine capital, Manila, in mid-September and at Malaysia’s Port Klang in October as part of the nation’s 2024 Indo-Pacific deployment. The mission centers on strengthening partnerships and supporting the rules-based international order.

The German and Philippine navies conducted a passing exercise, demonstrating their commitment to cooperative defense. In a statement, the German Embassy in Manila said the visit “underscores how politically significant the Indo-Pacific region has become for Germany.”

Berlin’s Indo-Pacific strategy highlights the importance of freedom of navigation and international law, particularly in contested waters such as the South China Sea, where the People’s Republic of China’s arbitrary and discredited territorial claims have spiked tensions. Vice Adm. Jan Christian Kaack, chief of the German Navy, said the nation’s annual Indo-Pacific deployments ensure open and secure maritime routes.

Germany and the Philippines are preparing to finalize a defense cooperation agreement encompassing joint training, technology transfers and potential arms procurements.

The Philippines is seeking to enhance its defense capabilities, particularly in command and control, antiaccess aerial denial, and maritime domain awareness. After meeting with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in August 2024, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro highlighted Germany as a potential supplier for those capabilities as Manila modernizes its military.

During their stop at Port Klang, the German Navy vessels trained with the Royal Malaysian Navy.

“Germany is a trading nation, just as Malaysia is, and we all want to have the rule of law persist in these waters, the freedom of navigation, free shipping lines from this region all the way to Europe,” Dr. Peter Blomeyer, Germany’s ambassador to Malaysia, told reporters. “And this is a commitment of Germany to contribute to this task.”

Germany’s naval operations in the Indo-Pacific reflect a broader European effort to support regional partners. Nations including France and the United Kingdom also have increased their naval presence to counterbalance Beijing’s assertive posture.

The German Navy’s deployment includes participation in the multilateral Rim of the Pacific exercise, the Noble Raven 24-3 exercise with Australia, France, Italy and Japan, and monitoring enforcement of United Nations sanctions on North Korea.

“It is our obligation to strengthen the maritime border and we are living up to it,” Pistorius said during his visit to Manila.

Maria T. Reyes is a FORUM contributor reporting from Manila, Philippines.