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An extensive 102-page report, called ‘Strategic Forecast 2040’ was published by the head of the Ministry of Defence at the end of February this year but was kept then kept under wraps, but has now been seen by the German weekly newspaper Der Spiegel.

The report outlines six scenarios for how social trends and international conflicts are likely to play out and influence German security.

The Bundeswehr plays out how social trends and international conflicts could influence German security policy in the coming decades in the confidential document.

In one of the six scenarios ("The Collapse of the European Union and Germany in Reactive Mode"), the authors assume a "multiple confrontation".