European leaders have pledged to assist in opening the disputed waterway once the conflict ceases, but the specifics of such actions remain unclear. U.S. President Donald Trump has shown increasing frustration over the lack of support from European NATO allies, even considering a potential U.S. withdrawal from the alliance.
The chancellor emphasized the importance of maintaining calm, stating, “We do not want — I do not want — NATO to split. NATO is a guarantor of our security, including and especially in Europe. We must continue to keep a cool head here.”
Merz informed reporters in Berlin that he had communicated to Trump that Germany would only participate in ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz after the war concludes and two conditions are fulfilled.
Trump announced on Tuesday evening that the U.S. had secured a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, which is contingent upon the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy passage.
The German leader described the ceasefire as a “ray of hope,” yet cautioned that “the past 24 hours alone have shown just how fragile the ceasefire in the region is, how uncertain the situation remains in the Strait of Hormuz, and how far apart the positions of the parties involved still are. The negotiations that now lie ahead will be very challenging.”
Merz mentioned he would discuss the situation with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday evening and highlighted Germany’s commitment to diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“We do not want this war — which has become a transatlantic stress test — to further strain relations between the United States and its European NATO partners,” stated the chancellor.
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