Germany prepared to send minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz

BERLIN — Germany has signaled it is ready to deploy minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz, but only as part of a potential international mission.

The issue is expected to be discussed on Friday in Paris, where German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.

According to a German government official, the federal government is “prepared to make a German contribution to ensuring freedom of navigation.” That could include “mine clearance or maritime reconnaissance.”

The minesweeping plan was first reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Merz reiterated his government’s position after meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Berlin on Thursday. He stressed that Germany is “fundamentally ready” to help secure shipping routes, but only under strict conditions.

Those include a stable ceasefire, a mandate within a system of collective security — “preferably” from the United Nations — and formal approval by both the federal government and the Bundestag. Merz underlined that Berlin remains “far away” from such a decision.

The signal comes as a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is in effect but has yet to fully stabilize the situation in the strait, where Iran blocked traffic and the U.S. responded by blocking Iranian vessels.

U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed NATO allies to move quickly, demanding commitments “within days” following his meeting with alliance Secretary-General Mark Rutte in early April. However, allies have been leery of getting involved in any combat action in the war started by Trump without consulting them.