Germany Rejects Trump Demand to Send NATO Ships to Strait of Hormuz

Germany has firmly rejected US demands to deploy NATO naval forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz, DW reported on March 16.

German officials categorically stated that the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran falls completely outside the alliance’s mandate. Stefan Kornelius, spokesperson for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, emphasized that the conflict has “nothing to do with NATO" and is strictly “not NATO's war.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on Washington and Israel to clarify their exact military objectives before demanding European involvement.

The sharp refusal follows recent warnings from US President Donald Trump, who claimed NATO faces a “very bad” future without European military support.

“What does Donald Trump expect from a handful of European frigates in the Strait of Hormuz that the mighty US navy cannot manage alone? This is the question I find myself asking,” German ​Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.

“There will be no military participation” from Germany but Berlin is prepared to support diplomatic efforts “to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz”, he stated, according to DW.

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“It is not our war. We did not start it,” Pistorius stressed. “We want diplomatic solutions and a swift end, but sending more warships to the region will likely not contribute to that,” he added.

Germany’s main responsibility is “for the eastern flank and the Atlantic”, the German minister said, and “we stay committed to that but we can’t be anywhere in the world,” DW reported.

The escalating conflict between the United States and Iran fundamentally reshaped the security landscape of the Middle East over the past few weeks. Following a series of coordinated military operations—including joint US-Israeli strikes against Iranian infrastructure—tensions remain at an all-time high.

A recent report detailed how Washington is actively threatening unprecedented military consequences if Iran attempts to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

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