German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has announced that Germany will not
join a naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz, a day after the US
pushed the nation to do so.
Maas said that Germany wants to avoid further escalations of tensions,
and believes there is no military solution to the US-Iran tensions. Maas
was very specific about not joining any US-planned missions to the Strait, though it appears unlikely they’ll join Britain’s either.
German officials had indicated earlier this week that they were split on the issue.
The Christian Democrats thought the British mission was the lesser of
two evils, while the Social Democrats opposed joining either fleet for
exactly the reason Maas indicated.
This once again points to the idea that the Germans won’t be joining
either fleet, as Maas’ talking points suggest the Social Democrats’
position ultimately won out, and Germany doesn’t want to join anyone’s
fleet.
It would have been a shocking development. It would surprise me should Germany join anything. Germany joined NATO forces in Afghanistan as it was billed as peacekeeping after US defeat of Taliban. When the war continued, Germany pulled out from
combat situations.
Germany must maintain good relations with Balkans, Turkey and Iran as the continental means of staying connected with Middle East and Asia. The anti-Russian posturing of Baltic states and Poland is to insure that Germany is cut off from Asia via Russia. And in spite of Germany’s best efforts to remain relevant in Ukraine — it is only US that is carving out Ukrainian body politics.
Who cares? Once the US attacks Iran for “closing the Straits” – as a result of a US blockade – Germany as part of NATO will join in the attack. There’s no way NATO stays out of it. At the very least, they have to lend their air bases and other assets to the US effort. Turkey might not, but everyone else will rather than risk problems with the US.