Germany welcomes alliance against terrorism

Ursula von der Leyen told German broadcaster ZDF the alliance would be of help if it joined other countries fighting Islamic State (IS), adding that IS had gained strength from disagreement among various opposition parties on how to fight or who to protect. 

“I think it’s right that the opposition is forming a group but it needs to be - and this is important - part of the Vienna process that includes all countries fighting against IS like the US, Europe, Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia but also Iran and China,” she said. 

Von der Leyen also said Germany was rejecting a request from the United States for Berlin to provide more military help in the fight against Islamic State.

She said several dozen countries had received the letter and she would write back saying Germany was on the same side as the US and was already doing a lot.

At the weekend Merkel also dismissed the request in an interview after German magazine Der Spiegel reported that US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter had sent a letter asking for a bigger military contribution from Germany.