On Monday, 4 May 2026, at 2 pm, the minehunting vessel "Fulda" will set sail for the Mediterranean as part of a pre-deployment for a possible deployment in the Strait of Hormuz.

The German Navy has been planning all options for several weeks in order to provide politicians with options for action. This also includes utilising the flexibility of naval forces to already deploy forces and resources in advance of an operation, as it is called in naval jargon. If we were to wait until a deployment order was given before planning and setting sail, we would have lost a lot of time. „We'll set off, and if we're not needed after all, we'll just turn back,“ said a naval officer at the National Maritime Conference. And the navy has the minister's approval. It is the strength of a navy to go into a region without having to touch sovereign borders and without setting foot on foreign soil. However, this is no substitute for logistical planning for a base in the theatre of operations. 36 years ago it was Manama in Bahrain. It won't be possible to do that again, because you would have to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

It is rumoured that a supply ship will also be involved - and the entire operation will be coordinated with European allies. But we won't find out more about this until later - and Monday is just a photo opportunity.