Mehr News Agency – Chancellor Angela Merkel and the whole German government do not see Germany taking part in a US-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz at the moment, German government spokeswoman said on Monday.
“The chancellor does not see a participation in a US-led mission in the current situation and at the current time – everyone in the German government agrees on that,” a government spokeswoman told a news conference.
The US Embassy in Berlin said on Tuesday the United States had asked Germany to join a so-called coalition against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Germany rejected the request.
Last week, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Berlin had yet to take a final decision on joining an international coalition to protect commercial ships in the region. Meanwhile, UK has called for a European-led maritime mission around the Persian Gulf.
Earlier this month, Iran seized a UK-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz for violating international maritime rules, while the UK had previously captured an Iranian supertanker in the Gibraltar. Iran has condemned the British seizure of the ‘Grace 1’ as ‘piracy’ and demanded the ship be freed.
Mike Pompeo also announced that Britain should look after of its ships on its own. German officials also reacted to the request of the US and Britain for starting a military coalition to control the shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
German Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany will not participate in US coalition for safeguarding shipping in the Persian Gulf and added that Germany’s stance on this subject has not changed and its policy has always been clear. He also added that forming a military coalition is a hasty decision and it means jumping ahead in response to the current issues.
Heiko Maas, German minister for Foreign Affairs also announced that Germany, Britain, and France are not going to follow US strategy for creating a military coalition; however, the three countries are in close contact to reduce the tensions and find a diplomatic solution for the problems in the Persian Gulf.
