Germany Bundestag Debates CDU/CSU Push for Stronger German Role in Horn of Africa
On Thursday, June 6, 2024, the Bundestag reviewed a motion by the CDU/CSU parliamentary group titled “A Stronger German Engagement in the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden” (20/11619). The proposal has been referred to the lead Foreign Affairs Committee for further discussion.
CDU/CSU Proposal
The CDU/CSU faction is advocating for a stronger German commitment to the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden. They argue that the participation of the German Navy in the new EU mission Eunavfor Aspides is a positive step towards strengthening Germany’s presence in the region and contributing to the stabilization of the Red Sea.
However, the faction asserts that this effort is insufficient to correct the recent “strategic neglect” of this geopolitically and geoeconomically crucial region by Germany. They contend that since the withdrawal of the German military from the Eunavfor-Atalanta mission in 2021, Germany has been “flying blind” in the area.
“Intensify German Presence”
The CDU/CSU calls on the Federal Government to “increase the German presence in the Horn of Africa states by sending additional diplomatic and military personnel to ensure a more secure flow of information, a better understanding of the situation, and a stronger representation of German interests on the ground.”
This includes deploying military liaison personnel to the German Embassy in Djibouti. The Federal Government is also urged to consider redeploying staff to the Eunavfor Atalanta mission in Djibouti and rejoining the EU training mission EUTM Somalia.
The CDU/CSU justifies its demand by highlighting the importance of trade routes in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia, and the influence of Russia and Iran in the region.
EAR – Editorial Note
This breaking news story is sourced from :https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2024/kw23-de-horn-afrika-1003266
