Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has asked the Bundestag to approve the extension of NATO-led missions in Afghanistan and the Mediterranean as well as the involvement in the international alliance to fight IS terrorism.

German soldiers will continue to be part of international foreign missions in future. The Cabinet has extended a total of seven mandates. Provided these mandates are approved by the German Bundestag, this will ensure that German soldiers are able to perform their duties even as a new government is formed in Germany, with mandates to run until 31 March 2018.

A United Nations Security Council mandate must be in place and the missions must be approved by the German Bundestag. It will be up to the next German government to decide on the future form of these missions.

The missions
- African Union/United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)
- United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
- NATO Resolute Support Mission to train, advise and support Afghan national defence and security forces in Afghanistan (Resolute Support Mission)
- NATO-led maritime security operation in the Mediterranean (Operation Sea Guardian)
- Preventing the terrorist activities of the terrorist organisation IS (COUNTER-DAESH).

Continued support in Mali and Northern Iraq

The Cabinet has also extended two missions by three months until 30 April 2018. The Bundeswehr will thus continue to be part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). And German soldiers will continue to provide training support for security forces of the regional government of Kurdistan-Iraq and for the Iraqi armed forces (training support Iraq).

Bundeswehr soldiers can be deployed provided the basis in international law is in place and provided the missions have been approved by the German Bundestag.