Germany plans to send 650 soldiers to join a new NATO mission “Sea Guardian” in the Mediterranean Sea. The decision was made by German cabinet on Wednesday, DW reported.

The document is valid until the end of 2017, it assumes that the number of soldiers can be increased in case of emergency.

The operation is directed to counter human trafficking in the Mediterranean Sea and to combat arms smuggling by the Islamic State militant group.

It is expected that the German soldiers will join a mission next year, at first Germany will provide ships for carrying out operation.