Merz, Trump agree Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea must reopen quickly

German Chancellor Merz and US President Trump discussed the Ukraine war and Gulf crisis in a phone call, agreeing that the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea waterway need to be reopened quickly, per a Berlin spokesman. The statement signals a coordinated push to address maritime chokepoint disruptions, though no concrete measures were announced. This marks a notable alignment between Berlin and Washington on Gulf security amid ongoing tensions.