Un portavoce del ministero della Difesa tedesco ha affermato che "l'invio della nave Berlin per la missione Sophia è solo temporaneamente sospeso. Il mandato della missione sarà prolungato dall’UE a marzo e riteniamo che debba essere chiarito meglio quali sono i compiti della missione". Questa dichiarazione segue l’annuncio giunto martedì della sospensione della partecipazione della Germania a Sophia.
Il portavoce ha d’altronde confermato che "se la decisione della sospensione sarà rivista, la Berlin potrà essere nel Mediterraneo nel giro di quindici giorni", precisando che nell'ultimo periodo "i compiti della missione sono cambiati". L’imbarcazione sarà - nel frattempo - impiegata per esercitazioni Nato nel Mare del Nord.
La missione dell’UE Sophia è nata per combattere il fenomeno dei trafficanti di uomini e per soccorrere i profughi alla deriva su barconi e gommoni nel Mediterraneo. Attualmente si occupa anche dell'addestramento della Guardia costiera libica e di impedire il trasporto di armi in Libia.
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