Germany does not plan to participate in a military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, despite calls from U.S. President Donald Trump. Officials in Berlin stated that they are prepared to support diplomatic efforts to ensure safe navigation.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made this statement on March 16 after meeting with his Latvian counterpart in Berlin, according to Deutsche Welle.
According to him, Germany has no intention of joining the military operation in the Strait of Hormuz proposed by Washington.
“What does Donald Trump expect from a few European frigates in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful U.S. Navy cannot do? This is not our war; we did not start it,” Pistorius emphasized.
He also noted that the U.S. and Israeli operation against Iran began without any consultation.
The minister also dismissed Donald Trump’s warning that NATO could face a “very bleak future” if allies do not support the U.S. In his view, the Alliance will not fall apart over such disagreements.
Earlier, Donald Trump stated that he expects allies to assist in ensuring the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. He expressed hope that China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and other countries would send military ships to protect the sea lanes.
The White House chief also warned that NATO could face a very bleak future if U.S. allies do not help unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
“If there is no response, or if the response is negative, I think it will be very bad for NATO’s future,” Trump said.
According to him, allies could deploy minesweepers, of which Europe has more than the U.S. Additionally, he proposes engaging European special forces or other military units to counter Iranian forces that are creating “problems” in the Persian Gulf using drones and sea mines.