Crises in other countries or on other continents can endanger security in Germany. The Bundeswehr is therefore involved in multinational operations that are intended to prevent or manage crises and to restore stability to the affected regions. In international crisis management, the Bundeswehr is expected to take on even more responsibility in the future in order to contribute to the handling of crises.
International crisis management includes all measures aimed at preventing, containing or peacefully resolving an armed conflict between countries, different parts of the population or other conflict parties. The main objectives of international crisis management are the prevention and containment of crises and the stabilisation of affected regions.
The Bundeswehr’s international crisis management becomes apparent through operations abroad in multinational alliances and organisations. If the German government wants to send the Bundeswehr on an armed mission within the framework of international crisis management, the German Bundestag must approve the mission. This agreement by the German government and the German Bundestag helps military personnel see themselves as a parliamentary army on operations with broad support and approval.
In the UNIFIL mission off the coast of Lebanon, German blue helmets also help secure the sea borders and prevent arms smuggling by sea.
Bundeswehr/Jana NeumannThe Bundeswehr’s mission in international crisis management is to counter threats to Germany and its allies. To this end, the Bundeswehr makes military and civil-military contributions in cooperation with its allies. The focus is on the following tasks:
In the Bundeswehr’s international crisis management, missions are conducted in compliance with international law. German servicemen and women cooperate with allies and partners from NATO, the EU, the United Nations (UN) and the OSCE.
Ad-hoc cooperation programmes may also arise, for example to counter hybrid and terrorist threats.
Servicemen and women of the Bundeswehr are also deployed in the post-crisis assistance phase of international crisis management. Here, military personnel are using detectors to search the surroundings for explosives.
Bundeswehr/Marc TessensohnThe end of the Cold War completely changed the Bundeswehr’s international crisis management: the Bundeswehr became the “armed forces on operations (abroad)” we know today. This development began with involvement in the UN mission in Cambodia from May 1992 to November 1993. This was followed by missions in Somalia, other African states, the Balkans and the Middle East. At present, the Bundeswehr is involved in the following missions:
Last updated: Dezember 2025
| Mission (name) | Mission area | First mandate | Current mandate | End of mandate | Mandated personnel ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KFOR (Kosovo Force) | Kosovo | 12 June 1999 | 26 July 2025 | indefinite | 400 |
| EUFOR ALTHEA (European Union Force) | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 8 July 2022 | 25 July 2025 | 30 June 2026 | 50 |
| UNMISS (United Nations Mission in South Sudan) | Southern Sudan | 8 July 2011 | 16 October 2025 | 31 October 2026 | 50 |
| UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) | Lebanon | 20 September 2006 | 26 July 2025 | 30 June 2026 | 300 |
| MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) | Western Sahara | 16 October 2013 | 16 October 2013 | indefinite | 4 |
| Sea Guardian (NATO mission) | Mediterranean Sea | 29 September 2016 | 13 November 2025 | 30 November 2026 | 550 |
| EUNAVOR MED (Mediterranean) Irini | Mediterranean Sea | 7 May 2020 | 13 November 2025 | 30 November 2026 | 300 |
| Anti-IS operation/Capacity Building Iraq (support for the anti-IS coalition, stabilisation of Iraq) | Middle East | 4 December 2015 | 17 October 2024 | 31 January 2026 | 500 |
| EUNAVFOR ASPIDES | Red Sea | 23 February 2024 | 16 October 2025 | 31 October 2026 | 350 |