German Defense Chief Gives Details Of Support To France

The chief of defense staff of the Bundeswehr, Gen. Volker Wieker, gave details of German military support for France in its fight against terrorism in an interview with the tabloid Bild am Sonntag (BamS).

He told the Sunday edition of the newspaper, which is well-informed about defense issues and is used by policy makers to deliver messages to the public, that 1,200 German personnel would be required for the measures announced by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen Nov. 26, making it Germany's biggest foreign deployment.

The Tornado Recce mission will require four to six aircraft to sustain, according to Wieker, who revealed that negotiations are underway with Turkey to base them in Incirlik and with Jordan to base them in Amman.

BamS identified the frigate that will escort France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier as the Karlsruhe.