Germany refused, Norway to join US-led naval mission in Strait of Hormuz

[shahbaz baig]

NEWS /UNITED STATES

Germany refuses to join US-led naval mission in Strait of Hormuz
Germany's foreign minister says his country wants to avoid further escalation, will not take part in mission.

6 hours ago
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said his country will not participate in a US-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a frustrated response from Washington's ambassador to Berlin.


Maas told reporters during a trip to Poland on Wednesday that "Germany will not take part in the sea mission presented and planned by the United States," adding the situation in the Gulf, where tensions have been rising between the US and Iran, was very serious and that everything should be done to avoid an escalation.

The US had formally requested earlier in the week that Germany and other European allies take part in the naval mission, which it said was needed to protect shipping routes in the strategic passageway through which about 20 percent of the world's oil passes and to "combat Iranian aggression".

The decision to not join the mission was motivated by Berlin's belief that the US strategy of exercising "maximum pressure" against Iran was "wrong", Maas, a Social Democrat, said.

One of the main obstacles to any German involvement in a military operation in the Gulf is opposition by the Social Democrats, the junior partners in a ruling coalition led by Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats.

Expressing frustration about Maas' announcement, US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell spoke to the Augsburger Allgemeine about Washington's attempts over the past weeks to get Merkel's government to join the mission.

"Germany is the biggest economic power in Europe, this success brings global responsibilities," Grenell told the newspaper on Thursday.

European-led mission
Separately, London last week called for a European-led mission to protect commercial shipping in the Gulf following Iran's seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker, a move that came after British forces captured an Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar that the United Kingdom claimed was heading for Syria in breach of European Union sanctions.

But that maritime alliance, proposed even as the US continues to press for a mission that would include its forces, which are far more powerful than those of European allies, has also failed to secure Berlin's support.

Relations between the US and Germany have soured since President Donald Trump took office, due to disagreements on a range of issues from defence spending to trade tariffs and the NordStream 2 gas pipeline.

Berlin has also been critical of Washington's policy on Iran in the wake of its unilateral withdrawal last year from a landmark nuclear deal Tehran signed with world powers, as well as the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign of economic sanctions aimed at forcing Iran to come to the negotiating table to strike a new deal.


"After verbally attacking Germany so many times, [Trump] wants them now to contribute to the Gulf mission," Miguel Otero, a senior analyst at the Elcano Royal Institute, wrote on Twitter. "No wonder they say: nein!"

INSIDE STORY

Can Europe save the Iran nuclear deal?

SOURCE: AL

 

[shahbaz baig]

Norwegian Navy on Strait of Hormuz Mission: 'We'll Act Where Politicians Ask Us to Act'
08:55 01.08.2019
According to Royal Norwegian Naval Academy pundits, a major contribution to an international coalition in the Persian Gulf risks undermining Norway's security and even weakening its self-rule in the North.

While the Norwegian government is yet to decide on whether the country will join a US-led military coalition in the Persian Gulf, ostensibly to protect maritime traffic, the Navy is already working on a possible contribution, Commander Torill Herland, Navy head of communications, told the daily newspaper Klassekampen.

“We'll act where politicians ask us to act”, she said.

According to Klassekampen, Norway's most relevant possible contribution may include frigates, corvettes, special forces, and minesweepers. Royal Norwegian Naval Academy expert Tor Ivar Strømmen, however, stressed that frigates are best suited for the protection of merchant ships. Corvettes may also prove useful, as long as the situation doesn't escalate, since they lack air protection.

In recent weeks, the US and the UK have announced separate plans to put together military coalitions to patrol the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and "protect commercial vessels" operating in the area against an alleged Iranian threat. So far, only South Korea has backed the US bid.

The UK launched a military escort for British-flagged ships last Monday and asked other countries to join. So far, the Danish government has welcomed the British initiative and intends to seek support of the Parliament. Norway is yet to make up its mind on either plan.

Experts' warnings

While the Norwegian Navy is contemplating various alternatives for joining a contingency force in the Strait of Hormuz, it should be prepared for full-scale war, Royal Norwegian Naval Academy expert Tor Ivar Strømmen has warned.

“When we go into such an operation, we have to be prepared for war within in minutes. It is not a given that it continues as a peace operation, even though it starts as one”, Strømmen told Klassekampen.

Following the loss of the Helge Ingstad, which sank last November after a collision following NATO drills, Norway has four frigates left, only three of which are operative at short notice. Since one of them is already engaged in NATO's Emergency Force, sending another one to the Strait of Hormuz would mean that Norway has just only a single frigate left.

While stressing the importance of “standing up” for the British and the Americans, Ståle Ulriksen, a fellow researcher at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy stressed that a proper contribution involves sending a frigate or a corvette. He stressed that the Norwegian Navy has been undermanned for several years and is currently dealing with more and tougher missions amid crew shortages. Frigates also play an important role in monitoring submarine activity in the North.

“The most serious thing about missing frigates is that we will face a vacuum across the northern areas. That vacuum will be eagerly filled by the British, French and, not least, the Americans. Then we lose the right to self-rule in the North”, his colleague Tor Ivar Strømmen stressed.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf

Tensions the the Persian Gulf, which is a major hub for international oil trade, have been increasing after a total of six ships were sabotaged. The US and the UK accused Iran of masterminding the attacks, which Tehran firmly rejects.

In a separate development, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that they had downed a US spy drone in June, while Washington claimed that the unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down over international waters. Later, Tehran became embroiled in a tit-for-tat tanker war with the UK, a staunch US-ally, following the detention of an Iranian tanker by Royal Marines near the Strait of Gibraltar on 4 July.

 

[damm1t]

wOW someone grows balls.

 

[war&peace]

Germans are not ready to become hired guns.

 

[925boy]

EU and US seem to accept they cant actually maintain security and peace in the Persian Gulf without Iran's approval. They are all afraid to send warships because they know Iran can use them to make toast. Fear isnt something people can hide succesfully for any long period of time.

Germans are not ready to become hired guns.

Because they know its dumb to be hired guns in US's beef with Iran.

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

Gotta respect germany. Its not the first time..

 

[Mithridates]

Heil Hitler.
BTW i really want to see our military stuff in action and in the depth of my hurt i hope one of these little countries navy do something wrong and we can act against them without fear of US/NATO involvement and test our weapons against a real target.

 

[Hack-Hook]

Heil Hitler.
BTW i really want to see our military stuff in action and in the depth of my hurt i hope one of these little countries navy do something wrong and we can act against them without fear of US/NATO involvement and test our weapons against a real target.

rather not do that

 

[zartosht]

what in the hell does Norway want in the Persian gulf?? what business is it of theirs really?? how would they like it a if a Iranian-Chinese-Russian coalition started naval patrols close to their borders??

if a war breaks out, I prefer the Iranian navy go after these euro puppet ships first before the americans.. Teach them a lesson about the end of the 19th century that they apparently haven't learned yet.

a sunken norweigan ship with hundreds of their sailors swimming the Persian gulf will send that message loud and clear.

 

[zectech]

what in the hell does Norway want in the Persian gulf?? what business is it of theirs really?? how would they like it a if a Iranian-Chinese-Russian coalition started naval patrols close to their borders??

if a war breaks out, I prefer the Iranian navy go after these euro puppet ships first before the americans.. Teach them a lesson about the end of the 19th century that they apparently haven't learned yet.

a sunken norweigan ship with hundreds of their sailors swimming the Persian gulf will send that message loud and clear.

Norway is ZOG. This is where the puppeteer shows that much of Europe is made up of lifeless sock puppets of even more lifeless zionist puppeteer.

 

[Trango Towers]

Norwegian Navy on Strait of Hormuz Mission: 'We'll Act Where Politicians Ask Us to Act'
08:55 01.08.2019
According to Royal Norwegian Naval Academy pundits, a major contribution to an international coalition in the Persian Gulf risks undermining Norway's security and even weakening its self-rule in the North.

While the Norwegian government is yet to decide on whether the country will join a US-led military coalition in the Persian Gulf, ostensibly to protect maritime traffic, the Navy is already working on a possible contribution, Commander Torill Herland, Navy head of communications, told the daily newspaper Klassekampen.

“We'll act where politicians ask us to act”, she said.

According to Klassekampen, Norway's most relevant possible contribution may include frigates, corvettes, special forces, and minesweepers. Royal Norwegian Naval Academy expert Tor Ivar Strømmen, however, stressed that frigates are best suited for the protection of merchant ships. Corvettes may also prove useful, as long as the situation doesn't escalate, since they lack air protection.

In recent weeks, the US and the UK have announced separate plans to put together military coalitions to patrol the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and "protect commercial vessels" operating in the area against an alleged Iranian threat. So far, only South Korea has backed the US bid.

The UK launched a military escort for British-flagged ships last Monday and asked other countries to join. So far, the Danish government has welcomed the British initiative and intends to seek support of the Parliament. Norway is yet to make up its mind on either plan.

Experts' warnings

While the Norwegian Navy is contemplating various alternatives for joining a contingency force in the Strait of Hormuz, it should be prepared for full-scale war, Royal Norwegian Naval Academy expert Tor Ivar Strømmen has warned.

“When we go into such an operation, we have to be prepared for war within in minutes. It is not a given that it continues as a peace operation, even though it starts as one”, Strømmen told Klassekampen.

Following the loss of the Helge Ingstad, which sank last November after a collision following NATO drills, Norway has four frigates left, only three of which are operative at short notice. Since one of them is already engaged in NATO's Emergency Force, sending another one to the Strait of Hormuz would mean that Norway has just only a single frigate left.

While stressing the importance of “standing up” for the British and the Americans, Ståle Ulriksen, a fellow researcher at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy stressed that a proper contribution involves sending a frigate or a corvette. He stressed that the Norwegian Navy has been undermanned for several years and is currently dealing with more and tougher missions amid crew shortages. Frigates also play an important role in monitoring submarine activity in the North.

“The most serious thing about missing frigates is that we will face a vacuum across the northern areas. That vacuum will be eagerly filled by the British, French and, not least, the Americans. Then we lose the right to self-rule in the North”, his colleague Tor Ivar Strømmen stressed.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf

Tensions the the Persian Gulf, which is a major hub for international oil trade, have been increasing after a total of six ships were sabotaged. The US and the UK accused Iran of masterminding the attacks, which Tehran firmly rejects.

In a separate development, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that they had downed a US spy drone in June, while Washington claimed that the unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down over international waters. Later, Tehran became embroiled in a tit-for-tat tanker war with the UK, a staunch US-ally, following the detention of an Iranian tanker by Royal Marines near the Strait of Gibraltar on 4 July.

So basically take out the sole Norwegian ship and Norway is history.

 

[KAL-EL]

Norway is ZOG. This is where the puppeteer shows that much of Europe is made up of lifeless sock puppets of even more lifeless zionist puppeteer.

Norway is Odin son

 

[raptor22]

Abraham Lincoln AC could not do anything, american bases in southern part of Persian gulf could not do anything ... british navy could not do anything so Germans realize they can not do it too.

 

[Smarana Mitra]

Abraham Lincoln AC could not do anything, american bases in southern part of Persian gulf could not do anything ... british navy could not do anything so Germans realize they can not do it too.

I am surprised because Germany is not an independent country. USA occupied Germany after WW2 and never left it. Even now, Germany Constitution is USA written and it has significant USA military presence to ensure Germany follows USA line.

I wonder how Germany got rid of this USA stranglehold and managed to defy USA.

 

[yavar]

افکار تجزیه طلب ایران مقیم در خارج ، مالکیت تنگه هرمز