Working for peace
Germany shows commitment: here you can discover which UN, OSCE, NATO and EU missions the country supports.
German policy is bound by the values laid down in the Basic Law. Germany also upholds these values internationally. War and civil war do not only endanger health and life, but also the rights and dignity of people in the war zone. Here you can find out how Germany stands up for peace and security together with the UN and other international organisations.
Germany and the United Nations
Peace missions are one of the most important responsibilities of the United Nations. Germany supports the UN as far as it can. That involves money – the country is the fourth largest contributor – and personnel. Germany is participating in the following UN missions (position in October 2020):
UNIFIL in Lebanon: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is engaged in an observer mission that has monitored the border between Lebanon and Israel since 1978.
MINUSMA in Mali: The largest foreign deployment of the Bundeswehr in a UN operation is for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali with up to 1,100 soldiers.
UNMISS in South Sudan: The United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) protects the population, monitors the human rights situation and enables humanitarian assistance.
UNAMID in Sudan: The United Nations-African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) also protects the population, makes humanitarian assistance possible and aims to mediate in internal armed conflicts.
UNSOM in Somalia: Police officers in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) support the peace process and assist in training the police.
UNMIK in Kosovo: Police officers have taken part in police and administrative duties in the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since 1999.
MINURSO in Western Sahara: The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara monitors the ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front independence movement.
UNMHA in Yemen: The United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement monitors the ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops from Hodeidah.
Germany and the OSCE
Germany is a founding member of and the second largest contributor to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in which 56 countries are represented. Germany provides personnel for ODIHR electoral observer activities and for ten current field operations. The most important current OSCE missions are in Ukraine to observe the military conflicts with the Russian-backed separatists and to support internal reforms.
Germany and NATO
Bundeswehr soldiers have taken part in various missions under the auspices of the North Atlantic defence alliance NATO. The most important of these at the present time are Resolute Support in Afghanistan at the request of the Afghan government, KFOR (Kosovo Force) in Kosovo and Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean. The continuation of the international coalition against IS in Syria, Jordan and Iraq is uncertain, because IS is currently considered to have been defeated militarily.
Germany and the EU
Germany also takes part in international peacekeeping missions within the EU framework:
EUNAVFOR SOM: Operation Atalanta off the Horn of Africa combats piracy and protects trade routes.
EUTM Mali: The European Union Training Mission in Mali supports the training of the Malian army.
EUNAVFOR MED IRINI: Operation IRINI in the central Mediterranean monitors the arms embargo against the civil war parties in Libya.
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