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(Bloomberg) — Chancellor Friedrich Merz told President Donald Trump that Germany would back a mission to secure sea lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, but that it would first need an international mandate.
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Merz told reporters in Berlin Thursday that such a mandate ideally would come from the United Nations Security Council. Russia is a permanent member on the council and holds veto power over resolutions.
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The US has sought specific commitments from European allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz once the fighting in Iran has ended, Bloomberg reported earlier. Washington wants countries to present concrete plans within days.
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“I told President Trump again yesterday during our conversation that we are prepared to help, for example, secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz following a peace agreement,” Merz said.
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A UK-led coalition of more than 40 countries, which includes many European nations, Japan and Canada, has pledged to help re-open the strait, through which about 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas flows, after active combat ends.
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The closing of the strait has sent global energy prices soaring and raised concerns about imminent fuel shortages.
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Merz said he told Trump that German involvement in securing the sea lanes would also require approval from Germany’s lower house of parliament.
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“The American president knows this, and he respects it as well,” Merz said.
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Trump has chided North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies this month, saying he was strongly considering leaving the alliance after countries denied US military aircraft use of their bases and airspace. He called allies “cowards” and said the alliance was a “paper tiger.”
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that the US may need to reassess its relationship with NATO after the Iran war is finished, calling the military alliance’s alleged lack of support during the Middle East conflict “very disappointing.”
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Merz said he discussed NATO with the American president and offered to have another conversation on the matter ahead of the alliance’s summit in July.
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“It’s my firm intention to do everything possible to maintain NATO’s protection for Europe,” Merz said. “This alliance is, at least for the time being, irreplaceable.”
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