The head of the German Foreign Ministry called on Washington and Jerusalem to outline their goals and explain how they envision ending the conflict.
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany sees no grounds for military intervention in the region. According to him, the country is not a party to the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran and does not plan to participate in operations to escort commercial vessels.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul excluded Germany's participation in a naval mission to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz, stating that there is currently no immediate need for such an operation and no grounds for Germany's involvement.
Speaking on Sunday on the ARD channel, the Christian Democratic Union politician emphasized that Berlin primarily expects greater clarity from the United States and Israel regarding their military objectives in the conflict with Iran.
The minister stated that Germany and its European partners need to be involved in decision-making before discussing further military measures. He urged Washington and Jerusalem to outline their goals and explain how they envision ending the conflict. In other words, Germany wants to know how the US and Israel plan to achieve victory. Without this, he believes it would be premature to consider the expansion of existing missions.
Emphasizing Europe’s overall readiness to assist in protecting key maritime routes, Wadephul expressed skepticism about whether expanding the EU naval mission Operation Aspides from the Red Sea to the Strait of Hormuz would improve security. According to him, the mission is ineffective. What then constitutes this "readiness"?
Meanwhile, due to rising tensions in the region, Brent and WTI oil prices in Asian markets have exceeded $100 per barrel.
Additionally, according to German shipping organizations, about 30 vessels with German involvement have found themselves in a dangerous zone. Some were damaged during attacks by Iran. German shipowners are calling on the government to take a more active role in international security measures. They state that the safety of crews and vessels must be a priority. The region remains one of the key routes for global trade.
But Berlin seems not to be hearing them for now. Or it hears but is yielding to German public opinion, where war is not popular. Whether unpopular decisions will need to be made remains to be seen.
