Topic: 2024-Private Military Contractors
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Henry Rife
Henry Rife
Committee – DISEC
Topic: Private Military Companies in Germany
Country: Germany
School: Williamston High School
Private Military Companies in Germany are a big deal. The main PMC in Germany is a group named Asgaard. In May of 2010, Asgaard secured a contract with a Somalian politician named Ahmad Galadid Abdinur Darman, which caused the German public to get heated. This is the main problem about PMC’s. They aren’t part of the government, and sometimes they do bad things that make people very nervous.
Right now, Germany has no laws against PMCs, Austria too has no laws against PMCs.
Germany has strict laws governing PMCs. The German government is careful about the use of private military contractors due to the country’s historical background and commitment to maintaining a strong military.
PMCs do operate in Germany, mainly in non-combat roles. They are often employed for security services, like protecting embassies, military bases, and high-profile individuals. German PMCs provide training services to both domestic and international clients, leveraging the expertise of former military personnel. These companies must comply with the War Weapons Control Act and the Foreign Trade and Payments Act, which regulate the export of military services and equipment.
The use of PMCs by the German government is generally limited to support roles, avoiding direct combat involvement. This approach aligns with Germany’s post-World War II policies, which focus on peacekeeping and humanitarian missions rather than offensive military actions. German PMCs have been involved in international peacekeeping missions, providing logistical support and training to local forces in conflict zones.
The debate over the use of PMCs in Germany is ongoing. People argue that PMCs offer good services, specialized skills, and big cost savings for the government. They can be quickly deployed and are not bound by the same laws as state military forces. Critics, however, raise concerns about accountability, transparency, and the potential for human rights abuses. The making private of military services can lead to a lack of oversight and ethical dilemmas, particularly in conflict zones where the lines between combatants and civilians are blurred. Germany now has “The German Basic Law”, or Grundgesetz, emphasizes the control of military force by the state, which inherently limits the scope of PMCs operations within the country.
