Berlin/Brussels/London (dpa) – Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out a military involvement of Germany in protecting oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and has voiced strong criticism of US President Donald Trump’s course of action. During a meeting with the Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten at the Chancellery in Berlin, Friedrich Merz stated that NATO was a defence alliance, not an intervention alliance. “I therefore hope that we will treat each other with the necessary respect within the alliance.” The Federal Chancellor added that the Iran war was not a matter for NATO, and warned of an “endless war” with unclear goals. The German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius made similar comments on the issue.
The UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “That won’t be, and it’s never been envisioned to be, a NATO mission.” Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles stressed that her government did not consider participating and that the war had to be brought to an end instead. The Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and a NATO spokesperson were also rather reserved in their reaction to Trump’s request for support from the allies.
Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which plays a key role in international oil and liquid gas transport, has come virtually to a standstill due to the war and the risk of attacks from Iran.
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