Advertisement

Germany gears up for more UN missions

DPA/The Local
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
Germany gears up for more UN missions
Von der Leyen visiting German troops in Mali earlier this year. Photo: DPA

Germany’s defence minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday the country could play a bigger military role in UN peacekeeping operations.

Advertisement

Von der Leyen was visiting the UN headquarters in New York as part of her American tour and subsequently said Germany should play a greater role in UN missions.

“We have key capacities and capabilities which other nations do not have,” she said after meeting deputy Secretary-General of the UN Jan Eliasson.

Germany’s defence chiefs would now “consider” how the military could get more involved, but no concrete missions were discussed in New York, the minister added.

Von der Leyen later stressed that greater involvement didn’t necessarily mean military force.

“The United Nations also needs police, judges and trainers,” she told broadcaster ARD on Wednesday.

Germany currently has 250 soldiers taking part in six UN missions. 

SEE ALSO: Is Germany shying away from global role?

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also