Checkbook diplomacy

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"Checkbook diplomacy" as a term was introduced to describe German and Japanese international involvement during and after the Gulf War I. The term has been used since then to describe international diplomacy solely handled with money.

Due to their history, both countries were unable to commit troops to the coalition, because of restrictions placed into their constitutions when they were drawn up under allied occupation following World War II (see Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution and Art. 87a of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany). Instead they volunteered large amounts of financing for the war effort. However, during this time Germany was also providing additional NATO navy units in other regions.