By JUDITH MISCHKE
BERLIN — Washington isn't happy that Germany has rejected its request to join a U.S.-led naval security mission in the Persian Gulf.
America’s ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell urged Berlin to consider its responsibilities, telling the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper that “America has sacrificed a lot to help Germany remain a part of the West." Pointing to the fact Germany is the largest economic power in Europe, he added: “This success brings with it global responsibilities.”
Washington has formally asked Germany to participate in its mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz alongside Britain and France.
But German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Wednesday during a trip to Warsaw that "the German government will not take part in the sea mission presented and planned by the United States," German media reported. Maas added that Germany is in "close coordination with our French partners."
The foreign minister said Germany wants to prevent military escalation and therefore rejected Washington's request because it considers the U.S. strategy of "maximum pressure" on Iran to be wrong. He added that Berlin prefers to rely on diplomacy instead.
The U.S. request came amid rising tension with Iran, which has seized a British-flagged tanker and has been accused of attacking other ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade corridor for oil in the Gulf.
Britain, which currently has two warships in the region, has called for a "European" maritime mission in the Gulf to protect ships and invited the U.S., France and other European countries to meet in Bahrain on Wednesday to discuss plans for an operation. The U.S. is already providing security for trade activities in the strait.
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