Germany has deployed ships for a possible mission in the Strait of Hormuz
Germany has begun preparations for possible participation in an international mission to ensure the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. To this end, two of the country’s naval vessels are already heading for the Red Sea.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius made this announcement ahead of the meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels.
According to him, the minesweeper Fulda and the support vessel Mosel are passing through the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea.
Pistorius noted that any German participation in mine-clearing operations would depend on obtaining permission from Iran and Oman. The decision will also be linked to further developments in the negotiations between Iran and the United States.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway in Germany for the possible deployment of a military mission. According to Der Spiegel, the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence have already drawn up a draft mandate for the Bundestag, which can be considered by the government at short notice if necessary.
Following the G7 summit in France, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that no final decision had yet been taken regarding the country’s participation in the operation. He added that the question of the international legal basis for such a mission also remains open.
France and the United Kingdom are working to establish an operation aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and supporting potential mine-clearance operations in the region. Berlin, together with Paris and London, had previously expressed a general willingness to join such an initiative in accordance with national legislation.
According to the German Ministry of Defence, the country’s naval forces are already on standby for a possible deployment. The ships Fulda and Mosel, which are currently in the eastern Mediterranean, could be redeployed to the area of operations within a few days.
A UN Security Council resolution, adopted in March at the initiative of Bahrain, is being considered as a possible legal basis for the mission. The document reaffirms the right of states to defend their vessels against attacks and to guarantee freedom of navigation on international waterways.
The German Navy is currently involved in several international maritime operations. In particular, German ships are taking part in the EUNAVFOR Aspides mission to protect international shipping from Houthi attacks, as well as carrying out tasks as part of the UNIFIL mission off the coast of Lebanon and NATO operations in the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea.
