The minesweeping plan was first reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Merz reiterated his government’s position after meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Berlin on Thursday. He stressed that Germany is “fundamentally ready” to help secure shipping routes, but only under strict conditions.
Those include a stable ceasefire, a mandate within a system of collective security — “preferably” from the United Nations — and formal approval by both the federal government and the Bundestag. Merz underlined that Berlin remains “far away” from such a decision.
The signal comes as a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is in effect but has yet to fully stabilize the situation in the strait, where Iran blocked traffic and the U.S. responded by blocking Iranian vessels.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed NATO allies to move quickly, demanding commitments “within days” following his meeting with alliance Secretary-General Mark Rutte in early April. However, allies have been leery of getting involved in any combat action in the war started by Trump without consulting them.