Defense Minister Boris Pistorius signals potential withdrawal of German Navy ships from Djibouti amid stalled Hormuz mission.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced the possibility of recalling two German Navy ships stationed in Djibouti this summer. The vessels, the minehunter ‘Fulda’ and the supply ship ‘Mosel,’ were deployed to the region in preparation for a potential mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade route. However, Pistorius stated during a press conference in Berlin with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the conditions for such a mission remain unmet.

The deployment was contingent on several factors, including a ceasefire agreement, approval from neighboring nations Iran and Oman, and legal authorization from the German Bundestag. Pistorius emphasized that no immediate scenario suggests the mission will proceed soon, citing Iran’s recent rejection of France’s proposal for a similar operation. He added that a decision on the ships’ return would likely be made by summer, noting the preference for German soldiers to endure Berlin’s 40°C heat rather than Djibouti’s 50°C temperatures.