Germany extends mandate of naval units deployed in Mediterranean

BERLIN (AA) - Germany’s parliament approved on Friday a motion by the government to extend the deployment of naval units in the Mediterranean to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya.

Some 534 lawmakers, mostly from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s left-liberal coalition government, voted in favor of extending the deployment for another year to support the European Union’s IRINI operation.

Main opposition Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) backed the extension, while 103 lawmakers from other opposition parties voted against the motion.

The mandate will allow the government to deploy up to 300 soldiers, two naval ships, and one reconnaissance aircraft in the region until the end of April 2023. The cost of the deployment is estimated to be around €21.8 million ($23 million).

The EU-led IRINI mission has been controversial and faced several criticisms in the past, as it had no effect on arms shipments by land and air to warlord Khalifa Haftar and his allies.