By James Brooks
Public Affairs Office
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Oct. 3, 2016) - Defense officials from the United States and Germany signed a memorandum of agreement today in Garmisch-Partenkirchen reaffirming the unique German-American partnership at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work and German Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister of Defense, Dr. Ralf Brauksiepe signed the document increasing Germany’s role at the center and increasing their investment in the center’s programs with personnel and funds.

The Federal Republic of Germany signed the first memorandum of agreement with the United States on Dec. 2, 1994, two years after the George C. Marshall European Center was established in the former facilities of the U.S. Army Russian Institute.  Since then, Germany has contributed personnel and funds through this agreement to provide programs that promote peaceful dialogue and cooperation among all nations of the world to address transnational and regional security challenges.

Under the new agreement, Germany is increasing their investment up to 25 percent of Marshall Center operating costs; currently, approximately $2.1 million.  Their total contribution will not exceed $5 million in any future year.

“The world has changed dramatically since 1994 when the first agreement was signed and the world has changed even more dramatically in the past three years with the advent of Russian ventures in eastern Europe and the migrant crisis coming from Syria and Iraq in the east and across the Mediterranean in the south.  Germany and the United States thought it was important to update this arrangement here and reinvigorate what we do here,” said Marshall Center Director Army Lt. Gen. (ret.) Keith Dayton.

The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies is one of five U.S. Department of Defense Regional Centers for security studies and the only one that has a bilateral commitment between the United States and another nation. The Marshall Center is the sole regional center for Germany.

Since the first security studies event took place in 1993, more than 200 resident programs have been held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen with more than 12,000 government and military graduates from 151 nations.  A robust non-resident program delivers tailored seminars reflecting the Center's focus areas and expertise, while a dedicated Alumni program supports all graduates in developing professional networks, trust, and common understanding.