Foreign Minister Baerbock in Iraq: “Germany is serious”

With her trip to Iraq, the Federal Foreign Minister wants to set an example in order to stabilize the country, which has been battered by war and terror. The crimes of the IS have marked the people. Baerbock tries to encourage.

Annalena Baerbock won’t be long please. She pulls on a red T-shirt with “Baerbock” written in white letters on the back. The German foreign minister kicks off happily – together with the “Soccer Girls”. The girls and young women in the red and orange football shirts are between ten and 25 years old. The waiting list for the team is long because a break from everyday life in the Qadia refugee camp is very popular.

More than 12,000 people live in the camp in the Kurdistan region, about 20 kilometers from the border with Turkey. You fled the violence of the terrorist militia “Islamic State” eight years ago. Most of them are Yazidis from the Sinjar region.

Germany finances aid for internally displaced persons

In Camp Qadia, the residents live in containers. The camp is considered to be comparatively well equipped – and yet the people here lack prospects. Non-governmental organizations therefore offer football and self-defense courses, art therapy and IT courses. The federal government supports this financially.

After her tour, Baerbock says: “These camps must not become a place of hopelessness.” Many residents would like to return to their homeland. That’s what the “Soccer Girls” say too. But many Yazidis do not feel safe enough in their homeland of Sinjar and see no prospects there. Baerbock came to Iraq to change that a little – and she was warmly welcomed.

IS remains a threat to the country

The Bundestag unanimously classified the crimes against the Yazidis as genocide in mid-January. In Baghdad and Erbil, Baerbock hears great gratitude for this – as well as for the aid promises from Germany.

Baerbock emphasizes again and again on this trip: Germany wants to help. The pressure on the so-called “Islamic State” must be maintained. The terrorist militia is considered militarily defeated. But individual cells continue to carry out attacks.

High security precautions for Iraq trip

While international airlines fly to Baghdad daily, the Foreign Minister flies into the Iraqi capital in an A400M military transporter. Security is high. The minister’s convoy is carefully protected.

Around 260 Bundeswehr soldiers are currently deployed in Iraq and neighboring Jordan to support the fight against IS and to stabilize Iraq. Baerbock agreed to continue training Peshmerga fighters in the Kurdistan Region.

Iranian and Turkish attacks on Iraqi territory are not making the situation any easier. Baerbock speaks of a “complicated neighborhood” in Baghdad. She calls for respect for Iraq’s sovereignty.

Baerbock does not want to arrive as a know-it-all

With all offers of help from Germany – after their political talks in Baghdad and Erbil, Baerbock repeatedly used the phrase: “But you know that much better.” The Foreign Minister is trying very hard not to arrive as a know-it-all.

But there are also tangible German interests behind the promises of support: the federal government wants to reduce irregular migration, and German companies are involved in the reconstruction of the country. Siemens Energy, for example, is involved in expanding the power grid. Further agreements are signed in Baghdad in the presence of the minister.

Iraq suffers from climate change

Stabilizing Iraq and providing more security is only part of the German support offer. Another: Advancing the fight against climate change. Iraq is one of the countries in the world that is suffering the most from the effects of climate change. Water is scarce, droughts affect agriculture, and people suffer from extreme heat. Germany wants to help here too. The Foreign Minister wants to explain how at the end of her visit to Iraq.

She is in the country for four days. It is the Green politician’s longest trip abroad since she took office. Baerbock wants that alone to be taken as a signal: “Germany is serious.”