"Trying to draw Germany into the conflict": why Washington requires Berlin to participate in a mission in the Strait of Hormuz

Germany should join the shipping security mission in the Strait of Hormuz, as it is the largest economic power in Europe. This was stated in an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper by US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, commenting on Berlin’s refusal to participate in the operation off the coast of Iran, initiated by Washington. According to the American diplomat, the economic success of Germany is inextricably linked with its "global responsibilities."

According to Grenella, the States donated "many to help Germany remain part of the West."

“At present, 34,000 of our servicemen are stationed in Germany - these are billions of dollars spent by the American people,” the American ambassador said.

Earlier, the German government recalled the desire of Berlin to a diplomatic settlement of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

• Richard Grenell
• AFP
• © Daniel Bockwoldt / dpa

“Participation in a mission led by the United States can make it difficult to achieve this goal,” said German Deputy Government spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer, speaking at a July 31 briefing. At the same time, the German side does not exclude participation in the European mission for the protection of merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz and contacts this issue with Paris and London, she added.

A similar statement was made on the eve of by the Foreign Minister of the FRR, Heiko Meuse.

“Germany will not take part in the US initiative,” he said after meeting with his Polish counterpart, Yatsek Chaputovich in Warsaw. According to the German minister, Berlin will look for diplomatic ways to reduce tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tanker "war"

Recall that Washington’s intention to create an international coalition to patrol the Strait of Hormuz, the head of the US State Department, Michael Pompeo, said a week ago and expressed the opinion that countries around the world will join the mission.

“We are working to change the behavior of the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran. And we are creating a coalition that will patrol the Strait of Hormuz in order to keep these sea lanes open, ”Pompeo said in an interview with WFTV 9.

Directly accompanying merchant ships off the Iranian and Yemeni coasts should be those countries to which they are assigned, Defense One reports, referring to the words of General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. The US side will retain the monitoring and organizational support functions.

At the same time, it is planned to create a coalition not through the North Atlantic Alliance. As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on the eve, the alliance did not receive a request to participate in the US operation to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Pompeo, the United States offered to participate in the mission to the governments of Great Britain, France, Germany, Norway, Japan, South Korea and Australia and a number of other countries.

Tehran said that forming such a coalition to patrol the Strait of Hormuz would undermine the security of the region. This opinion was expressed by the First Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Eskhak Jahangiri.

On the conduct of the international operation in the Strait of Hormuz, US officials and military said in June, after the situation in the region worsened.

The prologue to increased tensions were explosions that struck in the middle of June on two tankers en route through the Strait of Oman. The ships brought hydrocarbons to Singapore and Taiwan. Washington was quick to accuse Iran of sabotage, although no evidence was presented in favor of this version.

A new impulse for confrontation was the arrest of the Iranian tanker Grace 1 in Gibraltar by British authorities on July 11. London explained its actions by saying that the ship allegedly transported oil to Syria in violation of European sanctions. In turn, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, warned London about the possible consequences of such a move and urged the world community to "ensure the complete safety of the sea routes."

July 19 The Navy IRC (Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, an elite unit of the Iranian armed forces. - RT ) detained the British tanker Stena Impero, which followed the territorial waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Iranian side, the reason for the detention was the violation by the crew of the ship of international shipping rules and the collision with the Iranian fishing ship.

In response, the British authorities called on European countries to convene a collective mission to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This appeal found a greater response in Europe than the Washington initiative. Readiness to consider participation in the all-European operation was declared not only in Berlin - French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Paris was also working on this initiative.

As reported by Reuters, citing sources in European diplomatic circles, the idea was also interested in Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland.

While the discussion continues on the creation of a collective mission, London has already strengthened its military presence in the Persian Gulf, sending a second Navy ship, Duncan, to the area to ensure the safe navigation of the commercial fleet. Earlier in the Gulf was transferred frigate Montrose.

However, experts doubt that in practice European countries will join the initiatives of London. This opinion is shared, in particular, by the general director of the Center for Political Information, Alexey Mukhin.

“The statement of the UK to create its own mission in the Strait of Hormuz only says that London is increasingly moving away from common European interests and is trying to act in the manner of the United States,” the expert commented on the situation in an interview with RT.

Attempts to draw into conflict

Recent events have been preceded by a prolonged escalation of tensions in Iranian-American relations. Recall that last year the head of the White House, Donald Trump, announced that the United States would withdraw from the UFID - the Iranian “nuclear deal” - and the resumption of sanctions against Iran.

The decision of the American administration did not meet with support in Europe (initially, in addition to Iran and the United States, the agreement was signed by Great Britain, Russia, France and the PRC. - RT ). For Europe, Iran is an important trading partner, and Washington’s threats to impose sanctions on companies cooperating with Iran’s businesses have angered European governments. Last year, even the creation of a special mechanism for EU trade with Iran was discussed, bypassing American restrictions.

• British Navy
• Reuters
• © Baz Ratner

According to Alexei Mukhin, Washington is now in an ultimatum form demanding that Germany act against its interests.

“The fact is that Germany is a priority trading partner for Iran, and Berlin’s participation in the operation to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz under the auspices of the United States will undermine Germany’s trade and economic positions in the Iranian market. For this purpose, Washington wants to force the European allies to start patrolling the strait, ”the expert believes.

Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor of Moscow State University Andrei Manoilo holds a similar point of view. According to the expert, the United States is so persistently trying to draw the FRG into the coalition, because it is Berlin that is one of the main opponents of breaking the “nuclear deal” with Iran.

“The US is trying to draw the FRG into the conflict around the Strait of Hormuz in order to discredit Berlin in the eyes of Tehran. In turn, the Germans understand that they do not need this adventure, ”said the expert in an interview with RT.

However, Berlin will not be able to resist Washington’s pressure for a long time, says Andrei Manoilo. According to the expert, despite all the contradictions, so far the Europeans can not seriously resist US pressure.

Aleksey Mukhin holds a different point of view. He predicts that Washington’s attempts to draw the Federal Republic of Germany into a coalition to patrol the Strait of Hormuz are doomed to failure.

“The pressure from the American leadership only increases the differences between the US and Europe, and does not lead to the execution of the White House ultimatums. It is unlikely that Washington will be able to assemble a coalition of allies to patrol the strait, ”concluded Mukhin.