The defence expert in the Free Democrats (FDP), Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, warned against overburdening the military after the experience in Afghanistan, she told dpa.

“We go into conflicts where it is clear from the outset that we cannot win,” Strack-Zimmermann told dpa.

Germany must, however, be prepared to participate in the military missions of the EU, NATO and the United Nations, she said.

“It would be fatal use the problematic end of the Afghanistan mission as an excuse and say we are not going anywhere any more,” she said.

Few details have emerged from the three-party talks to form the next German government, which have the aim of installing a new chancellor by the second week of December. Olaf Scholz from the Social Democrats is expected to succeed outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Strack-Zimmermann did not comment directly on defence policy within the negotiations.

“As Germans, we must also have the courage to question alliance deployments: to articulate what we want and what we are not prepared to support. We must also be honest when we are not able to perform a task or have a different political opinion … The Bundeswehr will never, ever be able to solve the world’s crises,” she said.