Germany may broaden its military mission against Islamic State beyond Syria, draft proposals under consideration by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition show.
Merkel’s Cabinet on Tuesday backed the deployment, which includes sending 1,200 troops along with Tornado reconnaissance planes, refueling aircraft and a frigate in support of France in the fight against terrorism, according to the document obtained by Bloomberg News. More troops can be sent in an emergency under the proposed mandate.
The proposal requires a vote by the lower house of parliament in Berlin, probably to be held Friday. The mission is set to cost 134 million euros ($142 million) and last until the end of 2016.
“German forces will be deployed primarily in and over the operational territory of the IS terror organization in Syria as well as the territory of states where the government has given its consent, as well as the eastern Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, Red Sea and adjacent seas,” according to the draft.
Prompted by the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and other terrorist acts, the proposal says United Nations Security Council resolutions, the need to support France and Iraq and “the international alliance” against Islamic State justify military action under international law. The measure is signed by Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose Social Democrats are Merkel’s junior coalition partner.
“The direct participation in the fight against Islamic State represents an intensification of our security-policy engagement in the region,” according to government talking points cited in the draft.
bloomberg.com