Germany is deploying two ships, the minesweeper Fulda and the supply ship Mosel, through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea in preparation for a possible military mission in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said on June 18, 2026 [1]. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated, "As we speak, our minesweeper Fulda and the supply ship Mosel are sailing through the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea" [1].
The deployment also includes underwater drones, mine divers, and vessel protection teams to support operations if they proceed [1]. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul proposed expanding the European Union’s existing Aspides naval mission, which currently escorts commercial vessels in the Red Sea, to include mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz [2]. "The EU’s Aspides mandate offers a suitable basis for anchoring our European responsibility in this region and providing a legal framework," Wadephul said on June 17. He called for discussions to adjust the mandate to demonstrate Europe's readiness to act "when the situation demands it" [2].
Wadephul emphasized that any mission would require a firm international legal mandate and Germany’s parliamentary approval. He said Germany is awaiting official details of the 14-point framework agreement between the United States and Iran to better understand conditions before drafting such a mandate. "The prerequisite for us to draft a mandate for parliamentary approval is clarity regarding the actual conditions on the ground. And that begins with knowing the 14 points agreed between the US and Iran—not just from press reports, but through official channels," he explained [2].
Iran has expressed opposition to foreign naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz, with some statements rejecting the proposal. Wadephul noted, "There have been even some expressions of rejection from the Iranian side. I do not know if that is the final word. But for us, it is clear that these preconditions must be clarified; only then can we work on the text of a mandate" [1, 2].
Any mission in the Strait of Hormuz would also require approval from Iran and Oman and depend heavily on how the US-Iran talks unfold [1, 2]. German authorities have so far deployed the two ships and support teams to the Red Sea as a preparatory step while monitoring diplomatic developments closely [1].
