April 25, 2026
Berlin planning Mediterranean naval deployment to be ready for Hormuz
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the Rheinische Post newspaper that, “to save time,” German naval ships will be deployed to the Mediterranean Sea so that they can join an international mission to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, when the time comes.
“A deployment in the [Strait of Hormuz] is only possible when we have a mandate from the German Bundestag,” he told the newspaper.
“To save time, we have decided to send some of the units to the Mediterranean ahead of schedule so as not to lose any time once we have the mandate.”
He remarked that the government had followed a similar course of action ahead of the EU’s Aspides mission in the Red Sea that began in February 2024 as a response to Houthi attacks on shipping.
“That substantially accelerated the beginning of the deployment,” Pistorius said.
Without signalling when the deployment would take place, he said a minesweeper and support ship would be sent, with deployments in other areas being reduced, in agreement with partners.
Iran effectively blocked all traffic passing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz in response to attacks by the US and Israel that began on February 28. Despite a ceasefire, Iran has kept the key waterway due to a US blockade of Iranian ports.
Around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes through the strait and its almost two-month closure has had major impacts on economies worldwide.
Germany, like other NATO allies, drew the ire of US President Donald Trump by refusing to join the war, but pledged to help secure shipping through the strait with minesweeping and reconnaissance support.