In preparation for a possible deployment to the Strait of Hormuz following the end of the Iran war, a German Navy mine hunter will shortly be relocated to the Mediterranean Sea. The minehunter "Fulda" of the German Navy will be stationed there "in the coming days," a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Defense told the AFP news agency on Saturday. Currently, the vessel is still in the port of Kiel.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) had previously announced the relocation. "We will deploy a mine hunter to the Mediterranean and assign a command and supply ship to support it," Pistorius told the "Rheinische Post" on Saturday. He also emphasized that a deployment in the Strait of Hormuz is only possible "if we have a mandate from the German Bundestag." However, preparations should already be made for such a scenario.
Through this "pre-positioning," the ministry spokeswoman explained, "valuable time will be saved to quickly deploy the highly recognized mine hunting capabilities of the Fulda within the alliance, once the conditions determined by the Federal Government are met." Pistorius told the "Rheinische Post" that he had proceeded in exactly the same way when it came to launching the EU naval mission "Aspides" in the Red Sea. This had "then significantly accelerated the start of the mission."
During the port stay, according to the spokeswoman, "logistical and administrative preparations" for a possible deployment in the Strait of Hormuz will take place. She specified that the crew strength of a mine hunter is "usually around 40 to 45 personnel." In the Mediterranean, the "Fulda" is initially to "undertake tasks within the framework of NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2."
Previously, the ship had been part of NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1, which according to the Bundeswehr operates primarily in the northern European region.
As further conditions for a naval deployment in the region, Pistorius cited "first and foremost an end to hostilities." With regard to an international mandate, the Defense Minister considered an expansion of the existing mandate of the EU mission "Aspides." From his perspective, this would be "an appropriate and conceivable option." A UN mandate would certainly be "better," however it is "not likely at the moment."
The EU naval mission Eunavfor Aspides serves to protect shipping from attacks by the pro-Iranian Houthi militia from Yemen. The EU foreign ministers decided on the mission in February 2024 against the backdrop of the Gaza war, when the Houthis, allied with Iran and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, attacked cargo ships in the Red Sea. The Bundeswehr has been participating in the mission since February 2024.
Pistorius emphasized that the EU mandate for the "Aspides" mission already extends "geographically to the Persian Gulf." However, so far the units may only ward off dangers to civilian shipping in the Red Sea and use military means in doing so. "Therefore, the legal framework of 'Aspides' would have to be adapted," said Pistorius. In addition, in the event of a deployment in the Strait of Hormuz, Great Britain and the USA would have to be involved.
The Iran war had begun on February 28 with air strikes by the USA and Israel. In response, the Iranian military effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which normally around one-fifth of global oil transport passes. This caused energy prices to soar. Over the weekend, new negotiations between the USA and Iran on a possible end to the Iran war are expected to take place in the mediator country Pakistan.
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