Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann – European Security Policy

“Staying out of it and ducking away is not an option for an economy as large as Germany’s – and, at best, it’s naïve.” – Why Dr Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is a thorn in the side. And why that is precisely what matters.

There are politicians who say what their audience wants to hear. And there are those who say what needs to be said.

Dr Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann clearly belongs to the second group. And that is precisely what makes her one of the most interesting voices to be heard on the public stage today.

From Düsseldorf to the nerve centres of European security policy

Her story does not begin in Berlin. It begins in Düsseldorf – where she was born in 1958, grew up and, after studying journalism, political science and German language and literature at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, was awarded a Dr. phil. in 1986. For over 20 years afterwards, she worked as a freelance publishing agent – down-to-earth, entrepreneurial, a world away from Berlin’s political bubbles.

In 1999, she entered local politics. From 2008 to 2014, she was Lord Mayor of the state capital, Düsseldorf. Christian Lindner then persuaded her to move to Berlin. And the local politician went on to become one of Germany’s most prominent figures in security policy.

From 2017 to 2024, she was a Member of the Bundestag, and from 2021 to 2024 she chaired the Defence Committee – during precisely those years when this committee was more important than ever before. Since the 2024 European elections, she has been a Member of the European Parliament, where she chairs the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) – the most powerful security committee at EU level.

The woman who became sceptical in 2008

What sets Strack-Zimmermann apart from many defence policymakers is that she recognised early on what others refused to see for a long time.

In an interview with the journal Internationale Politik, she describes it herself: “I first became sceptical in 2008, when Ukraine asked NATO to be admitted to the alliance; the Americans were in favour, but the French and Germans were against it. I found that perplexing, because I could well understand Ukraine’s desire to become a member of NATO.”

This sentence says a great deal. Not just about foreign policy over the past decades, but also about a politician who was prepared, earlier than others, to draw uncomfortable conclusions – and to voice them openly.

The book: Streitbar. Und stolz darauf.

In 2022, her book Controversial. What Germany Must Learn Now was published by dtv – a clear, incisive plea for greater German responsibility in the world. It is not a political memo book. It is a stance encapsulated between two covers.

The title says it all. For Strack-Zimmermann has never made any secret of the fact that she does not shy away from controversy – when it comes to the right issues. Security, freedom, European responsibility: for her, these are not abstract concepts, but issues on which silence is not an option.

Straight talk that hits home – even if it hurts

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is not known for diplomatic beating about the bush. She is known for statements that stick in the memory.

When asked whether Germany should adopt a low-key approach to security policy, she replied unequivocally: “Staying out of it and ducking away is certainly not an option for an economy as large as Germany’s, and is naive at best.”

And on the question of Europe’s dependence on the US: “We in Europe must think differently about security policy, rather than staring at the next US election like a rabbit staring at a snake.”

These aren’t just talk-show soundbites. These are positions she has underpinned with years of committee work, trips to crisis zones and hundreds of discussions with military personnel, diplomats and heads of state.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann – What Europe must learn quickly now. Cyber-attacks, hybrid warfare, drone strikes – The future of NATO and European security policy.

And when asked whether she can actually be humorous – given the serious issues she usually deals with: “I come from the Rhineland and can, of course, talk about serious topics with humour, because there’s usually a humorous side to things, however serious the matter may be. When I think of the President of the United States, for example, I have a whole host of humorous ideas.”

On stage: substance meets quick wit

Dr Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann is deeply rooted in her subjects, not only politically but also academically. She has been awarded the Ukrainian Order of Merit – one of the few German politicians to have received this honour. She is a regular guest on Caren Miosga’s, Maischberger’s and Markus Lanz’s programmes, as well as on Morgenmagazin – and one of the most widely listened-to German voices on European security policy.

What makes her so effective on stage is her ability to translate highly complex geopolitical contexts into clear, direct language – without oversimplifying or sugar-coating the issues. She knows the key players personally. She was present in the rooms where the decisions were made. And she does not shy away from stating clearly what she thinks of them.

Who is Dr Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann the right speaker for?

Her keynote speeches are most effective wherever guidance is needed in uncertain times. For companies seeking to understand how the geopolitical situation affects their supply chains, markets and locations. For conferences looking for a voice that makes European security policy tangible. For executives who want to know what the new world order really means for Germany and Europe.

Uncomfortable? Yes. Unforgettable? Guaranteed.

She brings something that is rare: insider knowledge from the heart of European security policy, combined with the ability to explain it in a way that everyone can understand.

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