A recent poll suggests that a slight majority of Germans support the deployment of the German military (Bundeswehr) to a mission in the Strait of Hormuz. According to a survey conducted by Forsa for the publications “Stern” and RTL, 51% of respondents answered yes, compared to 44% who answered no, with 5% indicating they did not know.
This public sentiment comes as the German government has been discussing for weeks potential participation in securing the Strait of Hormuz. This option has been repeatedly expressed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). However, several prerequisites must be met for such involvement: the cessation of hostilities between the US and Iran; the development of a viable military concept, possibly formalized via a UN resolution; and, crucially, the approval of the Bundestag. The current approval figures are reported to be similar to those observed in mid-April, when half of the German public already supported deploying German mine-sweeping vessels in the Middle East.
In preparation for potential deployment, the navy recently sent the mine-sweeping boat “Fulda” to the Mediterranean Sea. If the mission is approved, approximately 45 soldiers, including mine divers, could proceed to the Strait of Hormuz to detect and neutralize explosive devices underwater.
Opinion on the matter is heavily divided between East and West Germany. While West Germans are largely in favor (52%), East Germans predominantly reject the idea (53%). However, consistent support for a German role is noted among voters of the CDU/CSU, the Greens, and the SPD. The Greens show the strongest support, with 77% of their voters agreeing to participate in an Hormuz mission. Conversely, nearly three-quarters of voters belonging to the AfD opposed the concept (73%). Skepticism also dominates among members of the Left Party, who reported that 48% answered no and 39% answered yes.
The specific question posed to the 1,009 respondents, surveyed by Forsa on May 7th and 8th, 2026, was: “Are you in favor of sending German mine-sweeping vessels to the Strait of Hormuz?”
