Ruptly
"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that Berlin is ready to help ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that any involvement would depend on legal and parliamentary approval. "There must be a viable and resilient understanding regarding the Strait of Hormuz. We are prepared, as the Federal Republic of Germany, to contribute to ensuring free navigation here," Merz stated, speaking alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Berlin. He stressed that Germany would act only "if there is a clear legal basis for it, if there is a decision by the federal government on this, and if then and there is also a mandate from the German Bundestag for it". The issue is expected to be discussed on Friday in Paris, where Merz will meet French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, amid growing concerns over energy security following disruptions linked to the Iran conflict. Merz said European leaders would also consider the potential role of the United States Armed Forces in securing maritime routes. "We will discuss the question of the involvement of the United States armed forces tomorrow. There are good arguments for it. [...] There, too, it applies before a corresponding resolution; we need a ceasefire and a corresponding decision by the federal government within a system of collective security," he noted. On energy policy, Merz acknowledged that Germany's 2023 nuclear phase-out was 'wrong,' but said reversing it would not provide an immediate solution to current supply challenges. "The decision was wrong. Correcting it will not solve any of our country's current energy supply problems. Therefore, it is a question of the longer-term perspective," he said. For his part, Martin said the government has kept financial reserves in anticipation of worsening instability in the Middle East, stressing that while Ireland's fuel supply remains relatively secure, soaring prices are placing significant strain on families. "Price has been a huge pressure, and people are under a lot of pressure. Families are under pressure because of this," the Taoiseach said. He also acknowledged widespread public pressure over rising energy costs and defended the government's response to protests, saying authorities had to act to prevent blockades of critical infrastructure. This comes as Martin's government faces mounting unrest over a deepening cost-of-living crisis, fuelled in part by volatility in global energy markets linked to disruptions in supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Martin's government initially introduced a €250 million relief package, but protesters dismissed it as insufficient. A second €505 million package was approved on April 12; by then, however, the movement had shifted toward demanding the Taoiseach's resignation."
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