Germany debates role of Bundestag in approving arms shipments to Iraq

The German government announced in August 2014 its intention to send weapons to northern Iraq to support the offensive against radical Islamist forces, but the move sparked debate over the Bundestag's participation in such decisions.

Commentatators noted that by this act the German government was putting into practice what it had made clear at the 2014 Munich Security Conference, that it was ready to play a more active role in global politics.

However, an article in DGAP's IP Journal said that an opinion poll in August 2014 suggested that almost two thirds of Germans were opposed to supplying arms to fight Islamic State.

On the 31 August 2014 the German government announced it would supply €50m worth of high-end military equipment to Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq.

Speaking to the Bundestag on the 1 September 2014, German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended the government's controversial decision to supply Kurds in northern Iraq with arms to aid their fight against the IS.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: What is wrong with German foreign policy? http://www.europeansources.info/record/what-is-wrong-with-german-foreign-policy/

ESO: Background information: The Ukraine crisis has highlighted the limitations of Germany’s ‘more active’ foreign policy approach http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-ukraine-crisis-has-highlighted-the-limitations-of-germanys-more-active-foreign-policy-approach/

ESO: Background information: Council Conclusions on Iraq, Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Brussels, 15 August 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-conclusions-on-iraq-foreign-affairs-council-meeting-brussels-15-august-2014/

Deutsche Welle, 21.08.14: A pleasant surprise for Washington http://dw.de/p/1CypH

Deutsche Welle, 21.08.14: German lawmakers want debate on supplying arms to Kurds http://dw.de/p/1CyW8

DGAP: Blog, 21.08.14: A Radical Rethink, Almost Overnight https://ip-journal.dgap.org/en/blog/berlin-observer/radical-rethink-almost-overnight

Deutsche Welle, 28.08.14: German soldiers arrive in Iraq to deliver aid http://dw.de/p/1D2xZ

Deutsche Welle, 27.08.14: Merkel speaks of 'genocide' by 'IS,' as Germany readies arms http://dw.de/p/1D2oK

Deutsche Welle, 31.08.14: Germany to arm Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State in Iraq http://dw.de/p/1D4UN

The New York Times, 01.09.14: Germany to Arm Kurds Battling ISIS http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/02/world/europe/germany-to-arm-kurds-battling-isis.html

EurActiv, 02.09.14: Merkel defends decision to arm Iraqi Kurds with German weapons http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/merkel-defends-decision-arm-iraqi-kurds-german-weapons-308148

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