Germany Plans to Change Its Military Strategy in Iraq

The German Foreign Minister has traveled to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to visit the country's military forces. Germany states that it intends to change its strategy in Iraq. Ursula von der Leyen, the German Defense Minister, announced during her visit to the Kurdistan Region on February 10 that Berlin's role needs to change to encompass 'Iraq's needs.' The German government has announced its intention to shift its strategy from training Kurdish Peshmerga forces to fostering stability throughout Iraq through 'capacity building.' Not much detail has been released regarding what Germany calls 'capacity building,' but Ms. von der Leyen mentioned that following the victories achieved against the group known as the Islamic State, German forces are needed in a 'transitional period' to address 'Iraq's needs.' Germany currently has nearly 150 soldiers in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Its mission in the Kurdistan Region officially ends in March. The German Defense Minister emphasized that 'everyone knows that ISIS has been hit, but they have not been completely defeated.' Previously, von der Leyen had met with senior Iraqi officials in Berlin, including Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. She stated that Iraqi leaders are seeking Germany's 'commitment' for 'another form of engagement,' including training and providing logistical support to their army. Training for the Kurdish Peshmerga by the Iraqi army began in 2014. During the tense referendum held in the Kurdistan Region, the German Defense Ministry announced that due to the uncertain situation in Iraq and to protect German soldiers, training for the Peshmerga was halted. Berlin opposed the Kurdistan referendum, and its Foreign Ministry stated that harming Iraq's territorial integrity 'is not the right action' and could lead to increased tensions, violence, and instability.