German warships pass Suez Canal as Berlin prepares for possible Strait of Hormuz mine-clearing mission

The ship movement

Two German warships, the minehunter Fulda and the tender Mosel, passed through the Suez Canal on Thursday morning, the defence ministry in Berlin confirmed. They are expected to transit the Red Sea in five to seven days and then make a stop in the port of Djibouti to stage for a possible mission. Around 140 soldiers are aboard, and the vessels have been fitted with autonomous systems, mine divers and protective equipment.

Defence minister Boris Pistorius called the repositioning a "forward-looking, precautionary measure" that would allow Germany to be "quickly capable of acting and, above all, quickly in the Strait of Hormus" if a mandate is granted. The ships are currently operating under the EU's existing Aspides mission in the Red Sea and do not yet require separate Bundestag approval for this transit.

It is a forward-looking, precautionary measure so that we can be quickly capable of acting and, above all, quickly in the Strait of Hormus.

Conditions for a mission

Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that any armed deployment would require "a clear legal basis" and "a mandate of the German Bundestag." He said the government wants to deliberate "in peace and quiet." A halt to all hostilities between the US and Iran, a framework under international law, and the consent of both Iran and Oman have all been named as prerequisites by German officials.

That requires a clear legal basis, that requires a mandate of the German Bundestag.

The strategic context

Iranian forces effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz shortly after the US-Israeli war against Iran began at the end of February, with reports that several dozen sea mines were laid in the waterway. The blockade drove up global oil and LNG prices, including in Germany. A framework agreement to end the war was signed on Wednesday night by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Massud Peseschkian.

The strait is supposed to reopen by Friday, but the mine threat to commercial shipping remains. On the G7 summit, Germany, France, the UK and Italy indicated a willingness to join a "purely defensive" mission. France and Britain already have ships in the region and are expected to lead the effort, while Germany is seen as a potential key contributor because of its deep expertise in mine clearance.

The North Sea and the Baltic Sea are the two ocean areas in the world where there are the most remnants of unexploded ordnance from the two world wars. And since this is, so to speak, our backyard, we actually have a lot of expertise, including in clearing duds.

Timing and political process

A Bundestag vote on a mandate could come before the parliamentary summer recess, possibly as early as the beginning of July. Only a simple majority would be required, theoretically attainable with votes from the governing Union and SPD parties. Foreign minister Johann Wadephul also tied German participation to conditions, and the government is preparing a draft.

Pistorius cautioned that the pre-positioning does not decide anything: "We are pre-stationing for a possible mission in the Strait of Hormus." Merz noted that "a whole series of prerequisites" must still be met. The ships will wait in Djibouti while those political and legal hurdles are resolved.