opinion poll
Majority supports Bundeswehr missions abroad
A Bundeswehr soldier secures a building on the outskirts of Kunduz. The Germans are fundamentally in favor of Bundeswehr soldiers being deployed abroad. Photo: Hannibal Hanschke / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
In principle, the Germans are in favor of the Bundeswehr’s missions abroad. However, there are significant differences in terms of the objectives of the missions.
A clear majority of Germans are fundamentally in favor of the Bundeswehr deployed abroad.
In a survey by the opinion research institute Forsa on behalf of the magazine “Internationale Politik”, 75 percent supported operations to evacuate German nationals or threatened civilians from emergency situations such as recently in Afghanistan. 63 percent believed that German soldiers should participate in the monitoring and implementation of peace agreements, for example in blue helmet missions. The Bundeswehr is currently involved in such a mission in Mali, West Africa. 59 percent were in favor of operations to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity.
No majority for combat operations against terrorists
On the other hand, there is no majority for deployments to train security and armed forces in other countries (39 percent)
as well as for combat missions against terrorist groups (37 percent). 14 percent of those surveyed believe that the Bundeswehr should not be deployed abroad at all.
Around 2200 German soldiers are currently involved in eleven missions abroad. More than half of them are stationed in Mali. After the failed Bundeswehr mission in Afghanistan, there is a discussion about the purposes for which the Bundeswehr should be deployed abroad.