Overseas Deployments - German army to continue presence in Kosovo and Bosnia in the future.
The German Parliament overwhelmingly supports the extension of two more Bundeswehr missions in the Balkans. Besides the traffic light coalition, the CDU and CSU voiced their favor for the KFOR mission in Kosovo during the initial debate.
Florian Hahn, defense political spokesperson for the Union party, expounded, "We need an effective KFOR to lower the persistent conflict and potential escalation in northern Kosovo and the Serbian border." The support for Germany's involvement in the EU mission Eufor Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina has also been endorsed by the AfD party.
The federal government is vouching for the prolongation of both mandates, set to be put to a vote in the next Bundestag session. Maintaining peace in this region, close to Germany, is a worthwhile goal according to Defense State Secretary Siemtje M?ller (SPD).
Bundeswehr in Kosovo for a quarter of a century
The longest overseas assignment for the Bundeswehr is the NATO mission in Kosovo, spanning over 25 years. A maximum of 400 German forces are to join the international force in maintaining a civilian peace order and public safety in the nation. However, Kosovo has recently encountered strife with neighboring Serbia.
The EU mission Eufor Althea has the Bundeswehr contributing up to 50 soldiers, with the objective of ensuring the execution of the Dayton Peace Agreement, signed to end the Bosnian War in 1995. Despite the cessation of hostilities, Bosnia and Herzegovina is still considered a possible hotspot for future clashes.
