Monday, 6 April 2026

Germany must capitalize on Euro breakthrough by Macron

Macron made a hat trick: Got Iranians to allow passage for the French container ship, paid the toll and more importantly made Euro the transaction currency for oil & gas trade. Friedrich Merz is on the other hand is seen slipping towards the lowest ever approval rate for a chancellor in German history.

Macron often called as Le petit roi,   had the gumption to negotiate with Iran over the Hormuz issue, breaking rank with the other EU pundits. On 3- 4- 2026, Iran allowed the Malta-flagged, French-owned container ship Kribi operated by CMA CGM  to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making it the first Western European vessel to do so in the closed gateway resulting from the US & Israel- Iran war. Effectively, the terms are France would not allow the using of French soil or airways against Iran; monetary transactions would be in Euro and the requisite toll would be paid.

This is indeed epochal. Firstly, the freedom of navigation claimed by the US led west has been rubbished and acknowledged so. Secondly, by paying in Euro the sanctions imposed upon Iran regarding foreign currency transactions are declared null and void. Thirdly, this results in a tectonic shift in geoeconomics where China and EU could work shoulder to shoulder in de-dollarization.

Iran is reported to enforce three conditions for passage thru Hormuz: one relates that the vessel belongs to a friendly nation. Understandably, America, Israel and the Gulf countries are deemed so far unfriendly. By the same token, the goods purported to be carried inside a vessel should have been transacted either via Yuan or an acceptable currency for the Iranian authorities. A flat toll is charged at approximately at US$ 2 million in value. The last would be reviewed as the case may be in the future.

Friedrich Merz must capitalize on this French breakthrough. Already he is in dire straits. A recent survey indicates a record high dissatisfaction rate amongst the German populace about the current the CDU/CSU & SPD Coalition and especially about the stewardship of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In fact, his dissatisfaction ratio is perched at 85% the absolute low for any German Chancellor so far.

A lack lustre Merz continues to pontificate as regards to the progress of war making passive statement such as “I wish every day that the Iran war would end”. He must listen to people like Larry Fink of Black Rock, the world’s largest asset manager, who said in no uncertain terms that either Iran is accepted back into the international community or the Strait of Hormuz remains inaccessible.

Friedrich Merz must immediately approve that Euro be one of the two transaction currency along with Yuan and the EU removes all financial sanctions over Iran. Failing to do so would give the American a big advantage. They can quietly keep US Dollar as transaction currency for oil & gas along with Yuan but effectively unseating Euro from the reserve currency status.

Navigating strategy amid geoeconomics mandates that Friedrich Merz save both Germany and Euro in a single stroke by following French President Macron!

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Strategy Adviser

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Strategy Adviser

 

 

 

 



 

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