U.S. asks Germany to join security mission in Persian Gulf

The United States has formally asked Germany to join its naval security mission in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Embassy in Berlin confirmed on Tuesday.

“We’ve formally asked Germany to join France and the U.K. to help secure the Straits of Hormuz [sic] and combat Iranian aggression,” an embassy spokeswoman told DPA. The United States is currently already providing security for trade activities in the Strait of Hormuz, the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.

“Members of the German government have been clear that freedom of navigation should be protected,” the spokeswoman said. “Our question is, protected by whom?”