Iran Conflict | Merz Says Germany Will Not Participate in Escort Operations in the Strait of Hormuz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Monday through spokesperson Stefan Kornelius that Germany will not participate in escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, nor will it be involved in Middle Eastern conflicts.

The spokesperson told reporters in Berlin that as long as the Iran war continues, Germany will not participate, even in options involving military means to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

The spokesperson added that he is not aware of any formal request from the U.S. government for Germany to participate in such actions. The U.S. and Israel did not consult with Germany before the war, and Washington made it clear at the start of the conflict that European aid is neither necessary nor welcomed. The spokesperson emphasized that NATO is a defensive alliance, an alliance to protect its territory.

Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also stated in Berlin on the same day that Germany refuses the U.S. request for military support to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

After meeting with visiting Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds, Pistorius told reporters that Germany is willing to support the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz through diplomatic means, but will not engage in any form of military participation.

Pistorius said that the U.S. military has a powerful navy, and he does not understand why President Trump expects one or two European escort ships to accomplish what the U.S. Navy itself cannot do.

He also stated that there is no reason to seek authorization from the German Bundestag for military operations outside NATO’s defense zone, emphasizing that this is not Germany’s war, and that Germany did not initiate this war.