Critic of Putin, Johann Wadephul, set to assume position as Germany's new foreign minister.
Rewritten Article:
Meet Norbert Wadephul, the straight-talking German politician tapped by incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz to serve as the nation's top diplomat. This appointment marks a significant shift, as it's been decades since a member of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has held the position of Germany's foreign minister.
At 62, Wadephul has been a long-time foreign policy confidant of Merz and is expected to work hand-in-glove with him in a newly formed national security council. The goal is to rebuild Germany's influence in Europe and beyond.
Wadephul isn't shy about taking controversial stands, such as advocating for allowing Ukraine to attack targets deep within Russia with Western-supplied weapons. This stance has stirred debate, but Wadephul believes the Ukraine war is "about all of us" and fears it could lead to a classic war of conquest in Europe.
A former German representative to NATO, Wadephul is a staunch advocate for reinforcing German and European defense capabilities. Despite the disrupted foreign policy under U.S. President Donald Trump, he remains hopeful that transatlantic ties will endure.
In a 2020 interview, Wadephul suggested Franco-German cooperation in nuclear weapons, proposing that France place its deterrent arsenal under the aegis of NATO or the European Union. This idea has gained attention since Trump's return to office.
Most recently, Wadephul served as deputy chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. The Kieler Nachrichten, a local newspaper in Wadephul's home state of Schleswig Holstein, describes him as a military-loving politician who can communicate effectively with everyone from farmers to heads of state.
Wadephul's appointment as foreign minister reflects Merz's plan for a united government voice on foreign policy issues. This comes after years marked by public contradictions between outgoing Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of the Greens and Social Democratic Party Chancellor Olaf Scholz, especially on defense issues.
Born in Husum, a coastal town near Denmark famous for its colorful harbor houses, Wadephul studied law in Kiel and worked as a lawyer specializing in healthcare law and social issues. Married with three children, he still resides in northern Germany, in the small town of Molfsee on the river Eider.
Wadephul has been a member of the Bundestag since 2009 and has held various senior foreign policy roles, including membership in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. In 2025, he fell victim to a prank when Russian comedians posing as employees of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called him. Despite the humorous nature of the conversation, Wadephul's professionalism was never questioned.
In summary, Norbert Wadephul, a deceit-averse politician with a military soft spot, has been appointed Germany's foreign minister. His stance on controversial foreign policy issues aligns with the CDU's general support for Ukraine, firm stance against Russia, and strong transatlantic relations.
- Norbert Wadephul, the newly appointed German foreign minister, is a staunch advocate for Ukraine, urging Western-supplied weapons to allow Ukraine to attack targets deep within Russia in the ongoing war.
- Wadephul, a military-loving politician, has served in various senior foreign policy roles, including as a former German representative to NATO, and is now expected to work closely with Chancellor Friedrich Merz on national security matters.
- In politics, Wadephul is known for his controversial stands, such as his proposals for Franco-German cooperation in nuclear weapons, aiming to place France's deterrent arsenal under the aegis of NATO or the European Union.
- Despite his military-related advocacies, Wadephul also has a background in health and social issues, having studied law in Kiel and worked as a lawyer specializing in healthcare law.
- In the world of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, Wadephul takes a serious approach, but he was once a victim of a prank when Russian comedians posing as employees of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called him. The conversation, though humorous in nature, did not affect Wadephul's professionalism.
- As Germany seeks to rebuild its influence in Europe and beyond, Wadephul's appointment as foreign minister reflects Merz's plan for a united government voice on foreign policy issues, a move intended to overcome the public contradictions between outgoing officials on defense issues.
