(VOVworld) – US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter sent a letter asking for a bigger military contribution from Germany to fight against the Islamic State.

German chancellor Angela Merkel. (Photo: John Macdougall/AFP)

The letter did not make specific demands and was similar to requests sent to other US partners. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that Germany will not expand its presence in the fight against the IS. Since February 2015 the German army has participated in training Kurd forces in northern Iraq. German parliament approved plans earlier this month to send six planes and up to 1,200 troops to the Middle East to support the fight against IS.