German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) expects that the proposal for a German naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz could be submitted to Parliament within a few days. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Wadephul noted that while preliminary work is underway, the measure would only be finalized once the specific agreements between the United States and Iran are public knowledge this Friday. Following that, the federal government could quickly seek approval from the Bundestag.
When questioned about the short timeline, the Minister confirmed that, because the mandate is clear and the deployment is well-defined, the technical implementation could be achieved faster. However, he emphasized that several critical conditions must be met first, including the cessation of all hostilities. All conflicting parties must agree that the strait should become fully navigable again, and there must be a joint mandate to undertake the mine clearance operations. Provided these conditions are met, Germany is prepared to act, pending approval from the Bundestag.
Wadephul stressed that a UN resolution could provide the necessary international legal foundation. Furthermore, he mentioned that under the Law of the Sea Convention, defensive actions against threats to maritime safety are fundamentally permitted. Nevertheless, he cautioned that it must be clearly established that neither Iran nor Oman objects to the deployment of German vessels within their maritime areas. He concluded by stating that Germany is unwilling to expose its military forces to unnecessary danger.
