Bundestag extends Iraq mission with a large majority
Created: 2022-01-28Updated: 2022-01-28 15:03
Chancellor Olaf Scholz hands in his voting card during the roll-call vote on the extension of the Bundeswehr mission in Iraq.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
The Greens have now also agreed: the deployment of German soldiers in Iraq is to continue for nine months - with a partially adjusted mandate.
Berlin - The Bundestag has extended the deployment of German soldiers against the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) in Iraq by a further nine months.
With 555 MPs, a large majority voted in favor of a mandate presented by the federal government, including the Greens, who are now part of the government.
110 MPs voted against, with one abstention.
The Bundeswehr is making contributions to the international anti-IS coalition involved in the fight and a NATO mission to train and strengthen the military and security forces.
Syria is now also formally excluded from the new mandate as an area of operations, after Germany had already discontinued reconnaissance flights in Syrian airspace in 2020.
In addition, the Iraq mission is to be evaluated, i.e. checked for success and effectiveness - a lesson learned from the failure in Afghanistan.
The Greens gave these points as a reason for agreeing to the previously rejected Iraq mission.
The upper limit for sending 500 men and women from the Bundeswehr to Iraq remains in place.
German contributions to the training of armed forces and security forces are made both as part of NATO's commitment in the country and as part of the anti-IS coalition.
"Iraq continues to suffer from the terror of the so-called Islamic State," said Sara Nanni, spokeswoman for security policy for the Green Group.
She was the first speaker to campaign for approval for the mandate.
The goals of the commitment to promote stability and security are correct.
Sara Nanni is campaigning for approval for the mandate.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
"It's no secret that we as Greens had a fundamental problem with the coalition of the willing, which is still the anti-IS coalition," said Nanni.
"Nothing has changed in the political assessment that such operations should better take place within the framework of collective security systems."
Foreign politician Norbert Röttgen (CDU) declared continued support for the Iraq mission for the opposition Union faction.
The country is still fragile and needs international stabilization support.
The waiver of Syria as a mandated area of operation was only a small change in the text and was already a reality of the mission.
more on the subject
Iraq mandate goes to cabinet
Bundeswehr operation in the Middle East: where is Iraq headed?
Markus Schlimbach re-elected as DGB country head
If the Greens change course, they should stand by it.
Röttgen said: "You should then be transparent.
They should say: We have changed our minds.” dpa
