Shaking Up Global Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador Appointment: Hanefeld; Kahl to the Vatican
Yo, let's talk diplomacy, baby! Germany's got some major moves up its sleeve, and it's about to send some heavy-hitters to key positions around the world.
New Ambassadors on the Block
First off, Jens Hanefeld (60), the current German ambassador to Ethiopia, is set to swap Addis Ababa for Washington D.C., taking over as the new German ambassador to the USA. Hanefeld's a seasoned diplomat, having served at the German embassy in Washington twice during his career: from 1997 to 2000 and from 2009 to 2014 as counselor and deputy ambassador. He's also got some serious automotive skills, having spent time on special leave with Volkswagen AG, focusing on international and European politics and trade policy. So, don't be surprised if he gives the US a run for its money when it comes to automobile tariffs!
Diplomatic Shuffle in the EU and NATO
Things are getting shaky in Brussels and NATO headquarters, too. Thomas Ossowski, currently serving as Germany’s EU Ambassador in Turkey, is set to move to the Permanent Representation of Germany to the European Union (EU) in Brussels. Detlef Wächter, ambassador in Oslo, is about to take over as the new NATO ambassador, bringing his extensive security policy expertise to the table.
Ambassadors on the Move: New York, Geneva, London, and Rome
Ricklef Beutin, currently head of the AA central department, is set to become the new permanent representative of Germany to the United Nations (UN) in New York, where he'll push for Germany's candidacy for the non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2027/28. Antje Leendertse, currently in New York, will take over the permanent representation to the UN in Geneva.
In London and Rome, things are getting a shake-up as well. Susanne Baumann and Thomas Bagger are set to take up key European positions: Baumann will succeed Miguel Berger in London, who's moving to Warsaw as ambassador, while Bagger will become the new ambassador in Rome.
Diplomatic Appointments: A multi-stage process
Becoming an ambassador is no walk in the park. There's a multi-stage process involved, starting with the planning stage, which can take several months. After the planning is complete, an "agrément" is requested from the host country's government, and once that's been granted, the German Federal President issues a letter of credence, which must be presented to the host country's head of state upon taking office. It's considered good diplomatic and protocol practice to first inform the host country about planned ambassadorial dispatches and seek their consent.
As for the embassies specifically planned for the summer of 2022, there's no publicly available list covering those appointments. For official lists from that period, you'd need to consult historical archives or official German foreign ministry (Auswärtiges Amt) records. Nonetheless, we can expect some major shake-ups in the world of global diplomacy as German interests continue to be represented by experienced diplomats in key positions!
In the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics, Jens Hanefeld, a seasoned diplomat with experience in automotive skills and trade policy, is poised to take on a new role as the German ambassador to the United States, shaking up general-news regarding US-Germany diplomatic relations. On the other hand, Thomas Ossowski, currently serving as Germany’s EU Ambassador in Turkey, is set to move to Brussels as the new head of the Permanent Representation of Germany to the European Union, while Detlef Wächter, ambassador in Oslo, will take over as the new NATO ambassador. These changes indicate a shuffle in the EU and NATO diplomatic landscape.
