The ranks in the Bundestag are cleared due to the Corona crisis. The Bundestag decides on an additional mandate for the deployment of German soldiers in Iraq. One issue remains: the withdrawal of German Tornado reconnaissance aircraft at the end of the month.
Berlin (dpa) - The Bundestag has approved a change mandate with new tasks in the use of German soldiers in the coalition against the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS).
A majority of the deputies voted in Berlin on Wednesday with votes from the Union, the SPD and the FDP. It was rejected by the AfD, the Left and the Greens. The mandate is to redefine the tasks after the deployment of tornado reconnaissance aircraft from Jordan ends on March 31. The additional mandate is limited until October 31.
It plans to extend the use of military tanker aircraft beyond March 31. In addition, Germany will create air transport capacities for the anti-IS coalition, but also for international organizations, allies and partners. With an airspace radar, Germany also wants to make a contribution to the early detection of planes and missiles. The Bundeswehr's ongoing training aid for security forces in central Iraq, previously part of the anti-IS coalition, is also to be organized with the NATO training mission.
"IS continues to pose a threat to the region, Europe and globally," said Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD). "In the current situation, we have to prevent IS from benefiting from regional upheavals. To do this, it is necessary that we continue to contribute as a reliable partner - beyond our great humanitarian and stabilization commitment."
Union and SPD politicians had called for approval, the liberals followed. FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann welcomed the fact that the training could now take place under the umbrella of NATO. At the urging of the SPD, she criticized the withdrawal of the tornadoes: "It is and remains a mistake." The IS terrorist militia is thus left open.
Before the debate, CDU defense politician Henning Otte had already warned that the decision had to be reconsidered. Italy had basically agreed to replace it before the Corona crisis. Relieving the hard-hit country is "also a question of European solidarity," said Otte. "We are now losing an eye there. IS terror is not taking a corona break."
