Superior of all soldiers and cabinet member
First paragraph of the articleSuperior of all soldiers and cabinet member
In her role as Minister of Defence, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer exercises several important functions at the same time. Not only is she a member of the federal government's cabinet, she is also the highest‑ranking superior of all soldiers as well as the commander in chief of the armed forces in peacetime.
The minister can thus make decisions on all issues concerning the armed forces. This includes the deployment of combat units, the introduction of new weapon systems or the closure of garrisons. It is only upon the promulgation of a state of defence that the power of command over the armed forces passes to the Federal Chancellor.
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Together with two Parliamentary State Secretaries and two Permanent State Secretaries, she is part of the Executive Group of the Federal Ministry of Defence.
The security environment is subject to constant change; the White Paper of the Bundeswehr takes this into account on a regular basis. The White Paper provides the minister with a framework for defence policy.