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Germany's parliament voted Thursday to extend the country's military deployments in Lebanon and Kosovo for one additional year, continuing two of the nation's longest-running peacekeeping operations.
The Federal Assembly approved extending Germany's participation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by a vote of 393 in favor, 180 against, and 2 abstentions. A separate vote on the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission passed 391 to 189, with 2 abstentions.
The German military has maintained a presence in Kosovo since June 1999 as part of KFOR, making it the German army's longest-running overseas operation at 26 years. Germany currently stations approximately 300 soldiers in Kosovo but is authorized to deploy up to 400 personnel to the mission.
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Under UNIFIL, Germany can deploy up to 300 soldiers to Lebanon, though approximately 100 German troops currently serve in the peacekeeping force. The U.N. Maritime Force is presently commanded by a German admiral.
The parliamentary approval ensures Germany will continue its dual peacekeeping commitments in the Balkans and Middle East through 2026. Both missions represent significant components of Germany's international security obligations under NATO and U.N. frameworks.
The KFOR mission was established following NATO's intervention in Kosovo, while UNIFIL operates along the Lebanon-Israel border as part of efforts to maintain stability in the region.
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