Overview
- The two defense ministers, who met Thursday in Canberra, announced a Status of Forces Agreement to ease deployments and signed a letter of intent to work together in space.
- Officials said the space plan includes building an early-warning network of sensors to spot threats to satellites, with Germany proposing about €35 billion for defense space systems.
- German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the U.S. war in Iran lacks a clear goal or exit strategy and criticized shifting demands from Washington toward European allies.
- Germany will only discuss helping guard ships in the Strait of Hormuz after a ceasefire, with Pistorius urging partners to spread security ties rather than rely on a single ally.
- The push to tighten Australia–Germany links comes as fighting in Iran disrupts Hormuz shipping and fuels supply strains, prompting middle powers to seek steadier security options across Europe and the Indo‑Pacific.