The German government is advancing preparations for the navy’s potential involvement in a securing operation within the Strait of Hormuz. According to “Der Spiegel”, during a secret meeting of the National Security Council, the government agreed to pre-position a mine-hunting vessel in the Mediterranean. This measure aims to ensure operational readiness should a multinational operation to secure the strait commence. Having this specialized ship ready would allow for a quicker response if such a mission were to start.
From the German government’s perspective, prerequisites for such an operation include a credible ceasefire agreement among the warring parties and an international mandate for a robust naval operation involving several nations. This mandate could be established through a UN resolution or by expanding the mandate of the EU Mission Aspides, which currently focuses only on securing maritime traffic in the Red Sea.
Overall, “Der Spiegel” reports that Germany has committed to the group known as the “Coalition of the Willing” to provide two mine-hunting vessels and a resupply tender for a possible mission. Additionally, support for aerial reconnaissance is planned, involving a specialized sensor aircraft already active for the Aspides mission.
