Head of BND Accepts Role as Ambassador to the Vatican, Previously Acting as Lobbyist in U.S.
Summertime brings change, and the German Foreign Office is no exception. Key positions are being redistributed, and several key personnel decisions have already been made.
The BND's current chief, Bruno Kahl, is set to become Germany's new ambassador to the Holy See in Rome. Kahl has been leading the BND since 2016, and this move seems to be his long-awaited wish, as he had expressed interest in this role as early as late 2024. On the other hand, Jens Hanefeld, the current German ambassador to Ethiopia, will be our next ambassador to the States, replacing the retiring Andreas Michaelis.
Hanefeld, a 60-year-old diplomatic veteran, has been in Washington twice before, from 1997 to 2000 and from 2009 to 2014 as counselor and deputy ambassador. Notably, he took a break from his diplomatic career to work with Volkswagen AG from 2014 to 2024, serving as head of international and European politics and trade policy. This background may be particularly useful given the ongoing trade tensions with the US regarding car tariffs.
The minister's cabinet-approved appointments are expected by this Wednesday, ensuring that our interests are represented by seasoned diplomats in the future.
Up in Brussels, Thomas Ossowski, currently EU ambassador in Turkey, will take over as Germany's permanent representative, having previously held a high-ranking role in Brussels.
NATO's New Face: Wächter
Detlef Wächter, current ambassador to Oslo, steps into the role of NATO ambassador, bringing a wealth of security policy expertise to the table. Wächter worked at the permanent representation to NATO in Brussels from 2005 to 2007 and served as Deputy Head of the Security Policy Division in the Federal Chancellery from 2007 to 2010, responsible for the USA, Canada, Western Europe, and Turkey. After stints in Washington and leading the North America division at the Foreign Office, he served as head of the Security Policy Division in the Chancellery from 2015 to 2017. From 2019 to 2022, he worked in the Ministry of Defense in Berlin.
Ricklef Beutin, currently head of the AA central department, will represent Germany at the UN in New York, promoting our candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council in 2027/28. Antje Leendertse, currently in New York, will take over the UN's permanent representation in Geneva.
Susanne Baumann and Thomas Bagger, current state secretaries, will assume key European roles. Baumann will replace Miguel Berger in London, moving to Warsaw, while Bagger will become the new ambassador in Rome.
Diplomatic teams are eagerly awaiting a date for Trump to accept Merz's invitation to Germany.
The appointments follow a multi-stage process, first planning, then obtaining the host country's agreement, and finally presenting a letter of credence to the head of state of the host country upon taking office. To maintain diplomatic protocol, appointments are generally confirmed only after the host government's approval.
Sources: ntv.de, Jörg Blank, dpa
- USA
- Vatican
- Diplomacy
- BND
- NATO
The appointments of Bruno Kahl to the White House as Germany's new ambassador and Jens Hanefeld to the Vatican as the replacement for Andreas Michaelis are significant moves within the realm of German diplomacy, intersecting the realms of general-news and politics. The ongoing trade tensions between the US and Germany might benefit from Hanefeld's employment policy background, as he previously worked with Volkswagen AG.
The redistribution of key positions within the German Foreign Office also includes the appointment of Detlef Wächter as NATO's new ambassador, further emphasizing the importance of community policy and employment policy in shaping national and international relations. Wächter's extensive background in security policy will be invaluable in this role.
