(B2) It was, if not expected, at least dreaded. Germany should no longer provide naval assets to the European operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Sophia)
(Credit: Bundeswehr/Michael Bockner)
A way, no doubt, for the Germans to put pressure on the Italians and other countries which are slow to adopt a distribution mechanism for the refugees which could finally be the nuclear button of annihilation of the mission. This withdrawal is all the more damaging since Berlin was one of the first contributors, even before the official launch of the operation. More symbolically, the operation was named after a child delivered by German sailors, in honor of Princess Sophia von Schleswig-Holstein (Read: Stop saying EUNAVFOR Med, say Sophia!).
The Berlin will not come to the Mediterranean...
The Bundeswehr will soon no longer participate in the mission with its own ship. The frigate Augsburg, present in the operation since February, will not be replaced by the supply and support ship Berlin (A 1411), as initially planned.
... preferring the North Sea
Bundeswehr Inspector General Eberhard Zorn informed the deputies of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday (January 22), reports the Süddeutsche Zeitung. THE Berlin will instead participate in NATO maneuvers in the North Sea, remaining on standby for Sophia. The ten German soldiers and sailors present at the HQ of the operation remain for the moment.
Matteo Salvini satisfied
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini mocked the decision in his usual style with a tweet: The Sophia mission had a mandate to land all immigrants only in Italy, with 50 newcomers to our country. If someone withdraws, it's not a problem for us. It is thus the kiss of death pronounced by Rome. For the leader of the Northern League, getting the operation stopped would thus be like a political victory that he could claim.
Desperate situation for Sophia's future
On March 31, a deadline obtained with the forceps at the end of December to try to solve the squaring of the circle – the distribution of migrants and asylum seekers who have survived – the operation may well have to close. EUNAVFOR Med has already suffered some withdrawals: the Belgians (considering the operation ineffective, read: Belgium could cease all contribution to Operation Sophia in 2019), the British (because of Brexit) have, in fact, already decided to interrupt all naval participation. Several countries such as Greece, Sweden and Bulgaria are not taking part in the operation.
There remains today (for the naval means), apart from the Italian national means, only the Spanish Armada, unless the Royale (the French navy) decides to save this operation. What is a real challenge, France - whether at the Quai d'Orsay (on the side of the diplomats) or rue Saint Dominique (at the ministry) - has never been fiercely enthusiastic for this operation.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
A drop in sail for the flagship
The Italian Navy has already reduced the sails for its flagship. The missile defense frigate Luigi Rizzo (F-595) replaced the amphibious assault ship in early January Saint Mark (L-9893) which had been the command ship for five months (153 days). We are not quite in the same register, in particular in terms of space on board and the reception of people: a crew of around 130 sailors for the first with the possibility of accommodating 2 helicopters; a crew of 180 sailors for the second, with the possibility of accommodating at least 350 people and accommodating five helicopters.
Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).
