Germany rejects US call to join Gulf taskforce

the Telegraph (uk) ^ | 31 July, 2019 | Justin Huggler

[granada]

Germany has rejected US pressure to send warships to protect shipping in the Persian Gulf from seizure by Iran.

Olaf Scholz, the German vice-chancellor, publicly confirmed on Wednesday that his country would not take part in a US-led naval taskforce.

“We want to talk about how to address the situation with our French and British partners in Europe, but there is no discussion of a mission as requested,” said Mr Scholz, who is deputising for Angela Merkel while she is on holiday.

Germany reportedly rejected calls to take part in the planned taskforce last week, but this is the first time the German government has commented publicly .

Along with Britain and France, Germany has been keen to rescue the nuclear deal agreed with Iran by Barack Obama, which Mr Trump withdrew from last year.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

How much longer will American troops be parked in this ungrateful country ?

[Mathews]

No prob... just don’t escort German or French flagged vessels.

[momincombatboots]

I thought we were just running intel for prher countries. Gosh, I can’t keep up. :)
Agreed, you are either with us, or against us.

[ealgeone]

Does Germany have any ships that could make it to the Gulf?

[mewzilla]

The EU creared INSTEX to get around US sanctions on Iran.

The EU is agin us.

[mewzilla]

If they do, they’re likely involved in sanctions busting.

[butlerweave]

Merkel’s Boss ,Putin didn’t like the it

[DoodleDawg]

When did the U.S. call for a naval task force?

[granada]

Merkel’s Boss ,Putin didn’t like the it

>
Are you kidding?
Her boss is Barrack Obama.

[Psalm 73]

We shouldn't escort ANYONE'S ships, except our own.
We can provide intel, but no hard assets.

[bert]

Germany is an Iranian ally

By refusing to join the Brits, Germany has abrogated NATO obligations

[frog in a pot]

"Along with Britain and France, Germany has been keen to rescue the nuclear deal agreed with Iran by Barack Obama, which Mr Trump withdrew from last year.

In reality, the current position of theses "allies" may not raise much concern in either the long or near term for U.S. interests, and may even be tacitly agreed with or encouraged by us.

It does, however, suggest a potentially difficult dimension to Trump's current efforts regarding his over-all strategy. If true, being President with such allies like that along with a strong home-grown political opposition cannot be easy.

Obama had it quite easy.

[GingisK]

Europe didn't clean up their neighborhood way back during Thomas Jefferson's administration. The US cleaned up the pirates without help then; and, it looks like we'll have to clean up for them again. Again.

By the way, the portion of the Marine Hymn that goes "...from the shores of Tripoli..." originates with that clean up under Jefferson.

[SuperLuminal]

Why would a moslem nation like Germany even consider interfering with another moslem nation’s right to piracy...

[M Kehoe]

Schweienhunt

5.56mm

[Svartalfiar]

By refusing to join the Brits, Germany has abrogated NATO obligations

How so?

[bert]

They both are signatories to the NATO mutual defensw treaty. The UK was attacked and a vessel actually captured as an act of war.

The UK in accordance wwith UN sanctions captured an Iranian vessel bound for Syria. Iran retaliated but had no legal reason other than retaliation. That was an act of war.

[Svartalfiar]

They both are signatories to the NATO mutual defensw treaty. The UK was attacked and a vessel actually captured as an act of war.

And if you read the actual text of the mutual defense treaty, it only applies to attacks on a country's territory in NA, Europe, or certain islands owned by these countries. A vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, even if it's an unprovoked attack, doesn't fall under NATO parameters. Sure, Iran was in the wrong doing this, but it's more e of a bilateral issue between them and Britain. No one else is involved unless they choose to be.

[bert]

Thanks for that. I assumed an attack on one was an attack on all even on the high seas