German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, currently visiting Hawaii, expressed concerns over escalating tensions between Israel, Hamas, and Iran. Despite participating in a naval exercise with two German warships, including the frigate Baden-Württemberg, Pistorius voiced apprehension about a potential Iranian military strike on Israel.
In an interview with DW, Pistorius stressed the need to influence all parties to avoid escalating the situation and to strive for a swift return to peace.
Debate on German Military Involvement
Back in Germany, there is ongoing debate about whether the German military should contribute to Israel’s defense in the event of an Iranian attack. Germany already provides Israel with weapons and political support, but the prospect of deploying German troops remains controversial.
Germany’s federal government has not indicated any plans to send troops, nor has it received such a request from Israeli authorities. However, opposition foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suggested that Germany should “wake up” in light of the escalating situation.
Kiesewetter proposed that Germany could assist by refueling friendly aircraft or deploying Eurofighter jets to intercept Iranian drones, while ensuring that any deployment remains strictly defensive.
Support for German Involvement
Joseph Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, supported the idea, stating, “Germany’s historical responsibility for Israel’s security is not legally binding, but it certainly implies that in the event of a major threat to Israel, Germany should stand militarily by the Jewish state.”
This “historical responsibility” refers to Germany’s commitment to Israel’s security post-Holocaust, often described as “Staatsräson” (national interest) in German. Although not legally mandated, successive German governments have reiterated this commitment.
Current Context and Government Stance
The current escalation follows the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by Germany, the EU, and other countries.
German politicians have not previously considered the idea of deploying troops to Israel as suggested by Kiesewetter. For example, Johann Wadephul, Deputy Chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, indicated that military support scenarios are not currently on the agenda, highlighting that any such decision would require Bundestag approval.
Markus Faber, Chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee from the Free Democratic Party (FDP), noted that Israel has clearly communicated how Germany can assist, such as through rapid approval of arms exports, rather than deploying troops, which might not be very beneficial.
Limited Military Options
Given Germany’s current military commitments, particularly in the fight against ISIS in the Middle East, it seems unlikely that German troops could offer substantial assistance to Israel. Ulrich Lechte from the FDP confirmed that refueling allied aircraft remains a possible option.
Additionally, Sergey Lagodinsky from the Green Party mentioned that German troops are already deployed in the region as part of anti-ISIS operations, which include refueling US aircraft.
During a recent press conference, Pistorius’ spokesperson Arne Kolatz emphasized that discussions about deploying German troops are premature and that political decisions must precede any military considerations. Approval for such a deployment would require a majority vote in the Bundestag, which is currently not available.
