Germany Pours Cold Water on EU Aspides Expansion as Hormuz Crisis Worsens

Germany’s foreign minister has cast serious doubt on plans to expand the EU’s Aspides naval mission to the Strait of Hormuz, describing the existing operation as ineffective and expressing strong scepticism about whether extending its scope would deliver any meaningful improvement in maritime security. The remarks added a new complication to already difficult international negotiations over how to respond to the Hormuz crisis, as President Trump’s calls for allied warships have drawn cautious or negative responses from most governments. No nation has committed military vessels to the contested waterway.
Iran’s blockade of the strait began in late February as retaliation for US-Israeli airstrikes, shutting off a waterway through which approximately one-fifth of global oil exports ordinarily flow. The disruption has been described by analysts as the largest oil supply crisis in history. Tehran has declared tankers bound for American, Israeli, or allied ports to be legitimate war targets. Sixteen vessels have been struck since the conflict’s start, and Iran has threatened to deploy mines across the passage, further deterring naval escort operations.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told a national broadcaster that the Aspides mission was simply not effective and that he was therefore very sceptical that extending its reach to the Hormuz strait would provide greater security. The EU mission currently includes ships from France, Italy, and Greece and operates against Houthi threats in the Red Sea. EU foreign affairs ministers were reportedly considering expanding its mandate to include the Persian Gulf, but German resistance creates a significant obstacle to building the consensus needed for any such decision.
Trump had posted on Truth Social calling on the UK, France, China, Japan, South Korea, and all oil-reliant nations to send warships to the strait alongside US forces. France flatly declined to send ships while hostilities continued. The UK said it was examining options including mine-hunting drones. Japan described a very high threshold for deployment. South Korea said it was monitoring the situation carefully and exploring available measures. Not a single named country has committed to naval action.
China’s response continues to be framed entirely in diplomatic terms. Beijing is reportedly engaged in discussions with Tehran about allowing tankers to pass through safely — a diplomatic path that could ease the crisis without requiring military action. The Chinese embassy stated Beijing’s commitment to constructive regional engagement and de-escalation. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed hope that China’s influence over Iran would help restore normal shipping conditions. Wright also confirmed he had held dialogue with several nations about the crisis, suggesting that diplomatic channels remain active even as the military response stalls.