Roderich Kiesewetter, a CDU foreign policy expert, has deemed current proposals for an international mine-sweeping mission in the Strait of Hormuz insufficiently thorough. Speaking on the “Berlin Playbook” podcast by Politico, Kiesewetter stated that, “Our idea of a mine-sweeping mission is extremely naive.” Instead, he argued for a more robust international mission dedicated to securing the crucial shipping route. “What we definitely need is a robust mission that keeps the Strait of Hormuz open; it is within this framework that mine clearance can take place,” he explained. However, Kiesewetter specified that Germany should not take immediate military involvement in such an operation. He confirmed that Germany would not participate in the mission at all, potentially only joining the mine clearance phase at a later stage. Concurrently, the CDU politician called for a firmer stance against Iran. He asserted that Iranian-backed militias must continue to be weakened, and the regime’s financial flows need to be cut off. While acknowledging that Germany remains a significant trading partner, Kiesewetter argued that Europe should intensify the sanctions regime rather than seeking new trade agreements. In his view, “security policy must take precedence over short-term economic interests.”
Politics
