Chancellor Friedrich Merz has affirmed Germany’s commitment to ensuring free navigation in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that any military involvement will require a legal mandate, either from the UN or the Bundestag. Ongoing discussions with international partners aim to establish a framework for potential missions, which may include enhancing existing operations like the ‘Aspides’ mission in the Red Sea. However, the Bundeswehr’s capacity to engage remains uncertain, given existing commitments and the need for a coordinated international response.