Description: The German army has war-gamed the break up of the European Union in study of security crises that could face the country by 2040.
Keywords: Standard,Russia,Defence,European Union,News,Berlin,Germany,Europe

# German army 'plans for break up of the European Union' in war game scenario

Armored infantrymen run in the mud during a media presentation for the annual Land Operation Exercise of the German Bundeswehr in Bergen, northern Germany Credit: EPA

The German army has war-gamed the break up of the European Union in study of security crises that could face the country by 2040.

Military planners in Berlin played out a scenario in which a growing number of countries follow Britain in leaving the EU, resulting in an "increasingly disorderly" world, Der Spiegel reported.

"The EU enlargement has been largely abandoned, more states have left the bloc," strategists wrote in a study cited by the magazine.

Armored infantryman of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, during a simulated attack as part of military exercises Credit: GETTY

"The increasingly disorderly, sometimes chaotic and conflictual world has dramatically changed the security policy environment for Germany and Europe."

Der Speigel said the study could inform German armaments programs in the next several years.

The scenario was one of six examined in a study of security challenges German generals believe could unfold over the next 23 years.

The other five include one in which some central and east European states enter an "Eastern bloc," presumably a reference to the growing influence of Russia.

FAQ | European joint defence force

Other scenarios envisaged European countries embracing "state capitalism" and a halt to globalization.

A spokesman for the German Defence Ministry said the study, called Strategic Perspective 2040, made "robust predictions" but did not attach probabilities to them.

He declined to comment on content of the report, saying it was confidential.

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