Germany to send troops on NATO mission

(Baonghean.vn) - Der Spiegel newspaper reported on September 13 that Germany planned to send 650 soldiers to participate in a new NATO mission in the Mediterranean region to combat human trafficking and arms smuggling by militant groups belonging to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).

Germany will send 650 soldiers to the Mediterranean under a new NATO mission. Photo: Bundeswehr.

The magazine said the German government will submit the plan to the Parliament for approval as soon as possible. Germany is expected to participate in NATO's Sea Guardian Operation this time until the end of December 2017.

The deployment is part of Germany's plans to expand its military role in Europe and NATO. Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen is currently seeking to rebuild the German military's armed forces after years of decline.

The magazine also said Ms. Leyen and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the German parliament that terrorist organizations can operate easily and unhindered by the lack of control on the Mediterranean coast by governments such as Libya. This leads to "growing threats to German security, which requires us to take appropriate action."

NATO members agreed to launch new maritime missions at the Warsaw Summit in July. The German Navy is currently participating in a European military mission called Sophia, which aims to combat arms smuggling and human trafficking off the coast of Libya.

Thanh Hien

(According to Reuters)