Today the Federal Government’s position on… Iran war like this: Americans (and Israelis) first attack without asking us. Then they have problems and the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Now that fuel prices are rising for the Americans, they are easing sanctions on Russia, which is hurting Ukraine, which only we can really help.

And then the Americans call us for help. But the Germans say: It’s not our war, we won’t help. But is Merz’s “Basta” clever? Wouldn’t it be wiser to help the Americans in the Strait of Hormuz with some European – and German ships, or at least with “reconnaissance”?

Germany is threatened by Trump’s blackmail trap

Especially since Germany is also in danger of falling into a blackmail trap Donald Trump is currently setting up – with his hint that it will be difficult for NATO.

There isn’t just one catch. It’s not that easy because this war is very much our war, even if we didn’t start it. Every driver feels it drastically in their wallet.

It is also “our war” because Germany is the main supporter of Ukraine. But the Ukrainians fear – rightly – that the Russians will now have more oil sold on the world market again, just so that Trump can say in the USA that he has lowered fuel prices.

Finally: It is also “our war” because it is in Germany’s interest if Iran does not have a nuclear bomb. It is also in Germany’s interest if there is one less Islamofascist regime that foments terror in the Middle East against Germany’s “reason of state”, namely its ally Israel. Not to mention the most brutal possible war that the regime in Iran is waging against its own people.

In short: Isn’t what the Americans and Israelis are doing once again the “dirty work” that others haven’t done? Not the United Nations, although it is the official body of international law that Iran has violated for decades. And not the Europeans, not even the Germans, because they didn’t help the Iranians for years.

Germany demands “a diplomatic solution”

The Chancellor meanders. Today says Friedrich Merz this: “Germany is not part of this war, and we don’t want to be one either.” And, because Donald Trump brought NATO into play, the Chancellor says: “NATO is a defense alliance and not an intervention alliance. That’s why I hope that we in the alliance treat each other with the necessary respect.”

And finally, after the Americans demand help in the Strait of Hormuz, which has temporarily closed Iran’s Revolutionary Guards: “As long as the war continues, we will not take part in ensuring free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz using military means.” Germany demands a diplomatic solution.

Everything Merz and his Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) say today sounds clearer than it is. It presents a false clarity. This theory is also supported by the fact that on Monday the Europeans were considering expanding their military mission in the Red Sea to protect against attacks by the Houthis from Yemen to the Strait of Hormuz. They considered it, but then rejected it. They also meandered.

Free shipping is in German interests

France’s Macron is open to it, Trump said in a confidential telephone conversation with the president. Britain’s Starmer made rather cloudy statements and Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen said Europe should be open to clearing the Strait of Hormuz on the American side. Even then, one does not support the US decision to go to war.

This means that Kissinger’s famous European telephone number that Americans can call still does not exist. No wonder Trump is now spreading the word that his demand for aid was just a test: “I’ve said it for years that when we need them at some point, they won’t be there.”

Today Merz is burying his head in the sand, accompanied by strong words. Just two weeks ago things looked completely different. Merz visited the US President, it was his third visit.

How Merz praised the attack two weeks ago

And after that, Merz by no means distanced himself from the Iran war, on the contrary: “Iran was on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. Both the carrier rockets and the enriched material are demonstrably present – possibly just a few weeks before the assembly of nuclear weapon systems. In this respect, there is a reason for the intervention after decades of negotiations about it.”

Diplomacy had been attempted but had produced no results. And regarding international law, the Chancellor said: “What do you do in a situation where negotiations have been carried out on the basis of international law for decades and the other party is not only unwilling not to conclude a treaty, but on the contrary is continually building up a nuclear arsenal?”

So much for the “Tagesthemen” recording. A comparison of the current statements with those from two weeks ago shows: at least one chancellor is looking for a line. Yes, Trump didn’t even ask. Yes, Trump is now – indirectly – helping the Russians.

A “cold shoulder” policy: who does it help?

But this simple and very self-confident manner and the announcement – “Then let’s see how you get out of this yourself” – doesn’t help at all. It is a cold shoulder policy.

Anyone who does something like that not only has to be self-confident, but also very strong. Self-confidence without strength has something like insulted liver sausage. You can’t get anywhere with this: not with Trump, not with the Iran war, not with the Russians.

It is already dawning on those in the Union faction that without a German contribution to the freedom of maritime trade in the important Strait of Hormuz it will hardly work. In Germany’s own interest.