German Opposition May File Lawsuit Over Sending AWACS to Turkey

The German Bundestag was informed about the planned NATO's military operation in Turkey by a letter from the German Foreign Ministry and the German Defense Ministry.

NATO plans caused criticism of the German opposition which have been displeased with the absence of an official voting on the issue.

Representatives of the opposition are currently considering the possibility of filing a lawsuit in the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhehe regarding the fact that the German government decided to deploy the country's troops to Turkey as a part of NATO's air mission without parliament's approval, the Local reported.

On December 18, NATO decided to provide Ankara with an air defense package that will include AWACS surveillance planes and military personnel from NATO countries, including Germany.

The German Ministry of Defense stated that the mission is of an intelligence, not a combat nature. However, according to German MPs, the government should have consulted the parliament before making such a decision.

Earlier, Germany’s parliament approved a proposal to conduct a military campaign in Syria against Daesh, a group outlawed in a number of countries worldwide, including Russia and the United States.

The mission is expected to involve up to 1,200 German troops and estimated to cost about $141.7 million, with its end set for December 31, 2016.