The German government has decided to reduce the size of its task force available for a military evacuation operation in relation to the conflict in Gaza and its regional effects, according to a joint press release issued by the German Federal Foreign Office and Federal Ministry of Defence.
A German task force has been on standby in Cyprus since 28 October 2023 to evacuate German citizens in Israel and Lebanon in response to the events in Israel and Gaza.
The press release, dated 21 November 2023, also stated that the ability to react quickly will be maintained even if the forces on standby in Cyprus are reduced. In this way the German government wants to ensure a basic ability to react to other scenarios.
“As a result, the evacuation force on standby in Cyprus will be reduced in close co-ordination with our international partners this week, starting tomorrow,” said the press release. “An important part of the evacuation forces and material will remain in Cyprus in order to maintain a core capability for immediate action and for a possible military evacuation operation on the ground. The forces brought back to Germany will be kept on call at short notice in order to be able to react quickly if the situation deteriorates.”
As a result of this decision the departure of the Berlin-class task force supply ship Bonn, planned for 23 November, will not be necessary. A possible evacuation of German citizens via a seagoing naval unit will continue to be ensured without restriction. The Berlin-class ship Frankfurt am Main, currently on a NATO support mission in the Aegean, was intended to be replaced by Bonn. The ship and crew of Frankfurt am Main were to be given the opportunity to prepare for the Indo-Pacific deployment next year.
Bonn, however, has proven its ‘cold start’ capability. The ship was originally due to operate as a NATO Very High Readiness Joint Taskforce Maritime unit from January 2024.
“When the order came to prepare the ship and the crew for the earliest possible departure to the Mediterranean due to the political situation, everyone involved, from the crew to the naval arsenal to industry, pulled together very well,” said the ship’s commander, Frigate Captain Eike Deußen. “I am proud of my crew; they are behaving in an absolutely exemplary manner despite the fact that we are unplanned and will be absent over the Christmas period. …. Many have even voluntarily cancelled or cut short holidays in order to be able to help with the preparations on board. I would like to thank all the departments and units that are supporting us with additional personnel Now we are excited to see what awaits us.”
