Thomas Röwekamp, chair of the Bundestag’s Defence Committee and a member of the CDU, suggested extending the existing EU mission “Aspides” to the Strait of Hormuz during a debate over a possible military deployment there to safeguard international shipping.
He noted that the Strait of Hormuz is already covered by the Aspides mandate, even though the mission’s activities have so far focused on the southern Red Sea. Röwekamp said Iran’s attacks on civilian merchant vessels and its threat to close the waterway are both illegal under maritime and international law.
The German politician emphasized that the goal is not to involve European forces in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel versus Iran. Instead, the mission is purely defensive, aimed at protecting maritime traffic and upholding international law-an effort that serves both German and European interests.
“We must keep it that way” Röwekamp said. “Germany will not take part in the war. We should discuss with our European partners how we can expand the regional scope of the current Aspides operation to include the Strait of Hormuz and what additional capabilities we can bring to that area”.
He proposed that Germany could contribute staff and provide maritime and aerial situational awareness. While the navy’s sea-going units are presently engaged elsewhere and not immediately available, he stressed that they should remain fully reserved for future deployment.
