Germany says it has no plans to send extra forces to Middle East

BERLIN, March 5 (Reuters) - Germany said on Thursday it had no plans to send additional military support ​to the Middle East, after European allies announced plans ‌to move forces to the eastern Mediterranean following a drone strike at a British air base in Cyprus.

Italian Defence ​Minister Guido Crosetto told parliament on Thursday ​that Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands ⁠would send naval assets to protect Cyprus ​in the coming days.

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Britain is also deploying a destroyer and ​additional helicopters with anti-drone capabilities to the region and is joining France and Greece in boosting air defences in Cyprus.

Germany’s ​navy participates in the long-running United Nations ​UNIFIL monitoring mission in Lebanon, but the defence ministry said ‌the ⁠military’s focus remained on NATO defence operations in eastern Europe.

“Germany is currently not planning any additional military capabilities beyond its existing contributions to international ​missions in the ​Middle East,” ⁠the ministry said in a statement.

The statement said the anti-aircraft frigate “Sachsen” was ​currently taking part in NATO’s Cold ​Response ⁠exercise in the Arctic.

The statement from the ministry reiterated comments from Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who declared ⁠in ​parliament: “Germany is not a party ​in this war. The Bundeswehr is not taking part in ​this war.”

Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Edmund Klamann

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