The new German government, led by incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, will officially take office on May 6. The highly anticipated position of Foreign Minister has been assigned to Johann Wadephul, a close friend of Merz. Like Merz, he is considered a transatlanticist. He stated that European policy would be his focus during his term.

Wadephul is a transatlanticist

Former Major in the Bundeswehr

Wadephul was born in 1963 in Husum, located along the North Sea coast. He currently resides near Lake Mölln, not far from the state capital Kiel in Schleswig-Holstein. In 1982, he began participating in the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Youth League while temporarily serving as a soldier in the German armed forces, eventually rising to the rank of major in the reserves. Subsequently, he pursued legal studies. This father of three children, who is a practicing Protestant and married, is now a specialist lawyer in medical and social law.

Since 2009, Wadephul has served as a member of the German Bundestag, and since 2017, he has been the deputy group leader of the Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Security Policy Committee. Considered a transatlanticist, he serves as the vice president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly but hopes to build an independent self-defense Europe. In the past, he advocated placing French nuclear weapons under EU responsibility.

German media coverage

Will not continue Baerbock's foreign policy

Wadephul will become the first CDU-affiliated Foreign Minister in nearly 60 years. This means that close cooperation between the Chancellor's Office led by Merz and the Foreign Ministry seems assured.

On Monday, in an interview with Germany's largest private TV station RTL and ntv, he said he would not continue Annalena Baerbock's "feminist" foreign policy, stating that "everyone must be able to set their own tone."

Discussing with Merz

However, he also expressed appreciation for Baerbock: "It was surprising how clearly and firmly she represented Ukraine policy," he said. Through consolidating climate policy, Baerbock also brought an important new perspective to the Foreign Ministry that should be retained.

As Foreign Minister, Wadephul will frequently travel abroad, which means a "new attempt" for his family. However, they are "well prepared." "I can tell you that the person I married is my classmate. So there is a certain stability and mutual trust between us," he said. His wife will undoubtedly occasionally remind him that less is more.

Wadephul during election activities

Play a more active role in European politics

When announcing the Foreign Minister selection on Monday, Merz emphasized that Germany wants to play a more active role in European politics. Wadephul responded that European policy would be his priority during his term.

On Wednesday, following his nomination, he made his first visit to Brussels. He held talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell. Recently, Wadephul also met with the foreign ministers of Poland, France, Italy, and the UK. While Wadephul is traveling, his team is preparing the Foreign Ministry in Berlin.

Meeting with EU Commission President von der Leyen

Borrell expressed positive evaluations of the future federal government's European policy after meeting with Wadephul. On social media, Borrell wrote: "I greatly appreciate your clear stance on European security issues." Next to a photo of herself with this CDU politician, she wrote: "A strong, united Europe is the key to lasting stability, and Germany's leadership is crucial in shaping this Europe."

As announced by the German NATO delegation, the conversation between Wadephul and Stoltenberg focused on Germany's contribution to NATO deterrence and defense capabilities. A significant increase in defense spending was also discussed.

Borrell praised Wadephul

Is Russia always the enemy?

This CDU politician also showed a firm pro-Ukrainian stance. Recently, he gained fame due to a prank call from Russian comedians.

In late 2024, Russian comedians set a telephone trap for Wadephul. They pretended to be advisors to the Ukrainian president, wanting to learn more about the upcoming power transition in Berlin and possible further arms deliveries, then posted it on the Russian version of YouTube.

Stoltenberg and Wadephul

In the conversation, Wadephul criticized Chancellor Scholz's policies as "weak and absolutely wrong," saying they did too little to force Russia to sit at the negotiating table on Kiev's terms. In his view, Russia will always be an enemy. Therefore, Wadephul is seen as a hawkish figure in the war over Ukraine.

However, recently, as the Foreign Minister selection became clearer, Wadephul did not express particularly hard-line rhetoric towards Russia. Due to Trump's stance on the Ukraine conflict and the tariff war, Wadephul did not show particularly pro-American tendencies. Observers believe that compared to Baerbock, he will be more moderate and pragmatic. This is determined by the current difficult international and domestic environment in Germany.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7499461859033219610/

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