German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) has reaffirmed that Germany will not become an active participant in the Iran conflict. In a Sunday interview on ARD, he said he would not rule out Germany’s involvement in an expansion of ASPIDES, the EU mission that currently secures commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The EU foreign ministers are set to discuss the matter in Brussels on Monday.
He added, “We certainly will not take any decisions tomorrow. ASPIDES is an important mission, but frankly we must admit that its focus on the Red Sea has not been very effective. Therefore, I am very skeptical that extending it to the Strait of Hormuz would provide additional security”.
When asked about Iranian threats toward Germany over the U.S. base in Ramstein, the Foreign Minister dismissed them, saying, “The Iran is not threatening us at all”. He described Iran as an “unjust regime” both domestically and internationally that cannot invoke international law, and reaffirmed Germany’s support for the United States and Israel.