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Johann Wadephul

The latest news and updates on Johann Wadephul, Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, having assumed the position in May 2025. A Member of the Bundestag since 2009, he previously served as Deputy Chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, with significant responsibilities in foreign and security policy. A lawyer and reserve Lieutenant Colonel, Wadephul is a defence policy expert known for advocating robust German military support for Ukraine and deeper NATO integration. His expertise encompasses transatlantic relations, China, Russia, the Balkans, and the Middle East. He was also elected Vice-President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in November 2024.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House on Saturday. Photo: AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump may cut US troops in Germany after ‘humiliating’ Iran comment

The German chancellor has drawn the US president’s ire with his remarks about Tehran besting Washington at the negotiating table.

30 Apr 2026 - 7:46AM

China-EU relations

China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait of Hormuz

3 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Munich Security Conference

As transatlantic divorce plays out in Munich, China enjoys the silence

15 Feb 2026 - 9:30PMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

World artists back Palestine rapporteur Francesca Albanese despite criticism

Albanese faces calls from France and Germany to step down over remarks in which she criticised ‘most of the world’ for enabling Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza.

14 Feb 2026 - 11:17PM

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories attends a demonstration during a nationwide strike in Italy, called by the USB union in solidarity with Gaza and against the government and its plan to increase military spending, in Rome, Italy, on November 29 last year. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

Farewell to the ‘unipolar moment’: Europe scrambles for footing between US and China

French and German foreign ministers revive talks with Beijing counterpart to respond to US-China divide-and-rule tactics and bolster European unity.

14 Feb 2026 - 7:50PMvideocam

Greenland

Britain in talks with Nato allies over Arctic security as US eyes Greenland

UK minister says talks on the Arctic ‘business as usual’, while Trump posits having Greenland ‘one way or the other’.

12 Jan 2026 - 3:06PM

Donald Trump

Trump plots to buy Greenland, as Nato ally Denmark seethes

The US president has repeatedly refused to rule out using force to seize the Arctic island, but his team says the first option is diplomacy.

8 Jan 2026 - 5:20AMvideocam

A Danish navy vessel patrols the waters off Nuuk, Greenland, in March 2025. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

Editorial | Less hostility towards China in new US security strategy is welcome

The plan’s watering down of America’s antagonism towards China bodes well for both nations and the world.

21 Dec 2025 - 6:45AM

Australia

World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach attack as vigils held for victims

Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’.

15 Dec 2025 - 6:28AM

United States

Outside In | It’s an expensive Christmas for Americans thanks to Trump’s tariffs

It’s been years since the US president extolled the virtues of trade wars: how much longer before he recognises tariffs harm the US economy?

12 Dec 2025 - 5:08PMvideocam

People walk by shop windows decorated for Christmas in New York on December 5. Photo: dpa

China-EU relations

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

12 Dec 2025 - 3:03AMvideocam

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) meets with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, in Beijing on Monday. Photo: DPA

China-Germany relations

Editorial | Time for Germany to see reason and improve relations with China

With Trump and his frequently anti-European rhetoric, Berlin should see the writing on the wall and move away from its hardline stance.

11 Dec 2025 - 7:15AM

China-Germany relations

Hitting China with tariffs should be ‘last resort’, German foreign minister says

During two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Johann Wadephul also calls for Beijing to recognise Europe’s concerns and ‘take action’.

9 Dec 2025 - 2:08PM

China-EU relations

China leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock

Commerce vice-minister urges German industry leaders to leverage their clout to push the European Commission towards a compromise on the anti-subsidy probe.

8 Dec 2025 - 8:58PM

Labourers work on an assembly line at a factory in Chongqing, China, in May. Beijing has pressed German carmakers to help resolve disputes over the European Union’s anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Photo: EPA-EFE

China-Germany relations

German foreign minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on Chinese rare earths, chips

Critical minerals, semiconductors and other commodities dominate talks as Johann Wadephul begins trip to China aimed at addressing trade.

8 Dec 2025 - 9:38PM

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (left) with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao before talks on Monday. Photo: dpa

China-Germany relations

Why top German diplomat’s China trip aims to manage rivalry but won’t reset ties

Critical minerals and Ukraine war expected to be top priorities as Germany’s foreign minister travels to China.

7 Dec 2025 - 11:14PM

China-Germany relations

The great slowdown: Germany at a standstill as ‘China shock’ hits

As Europe’s biggest economy is pummelled by structural problems and external threats, rocky China ties are compounding the dreary picture.

6 Dec 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Beijing rebuffs Takaichi, Macron-Xi talks, key economic meeting

This week: China rejects Takaichi’s Taiwan climbdown, Macron visits Xi in Beijing, US deepens Taiwan ties, PBOC slams stablecoins. Next week: economic planning meeting, November trade and inflation data, Hong Kong Legco elections and more.

5 Dec 2025 - 5:12PM

European Union

Opinion | Stumbling Germany needs a clear strategy on China

Berlin must ditch the fantasy that it can profit without strategic risks, stop acting like a junior partner and decide what it stands for.

25 Nov 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

China-EU relations

German foreign minister in ‘last stages of coordinating’ trip to China

Johann Wadephul also states he backs a speedier form of de-risking and diversifying away from Beijing’s stronghold on critical minerals.

25 Nov 2025 - 7:18PMvideocam

Ukraine war

‘Issues remain’: US-Ukraine talks advance, but Europe cautious on Russia deal

Trump hails ‘big progress’ in talks, while Germany confirms US plan was modified with Nato and territorial demands removed.

25 Nov 2025 - 1:03AM

Servicemen of the 148th Separate Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine fire a Caesar howitzer at Russian troops near Pokrovsk in Donetsk on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

China-Germany relations

Premier Li Qiang urges Germany to be ‘rational and pragmatic’ on China policy

Meeting between Li and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on G20 sidelines marks a step towards mending ties.

24 Nov 2025 - 4:46PMvideocam

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet on the margins of the G20 summit, in Johannesburg on Sunday. Photo: dpa

Germany

Outcry forces cancellation of Holocaust artefacts auction in Germany

The controversial sale, titled ‘The System of Terror’, was cancelled after high-level Polish intervention and outcry from Holocaust survivors.

17 Nov 2025 - 11:07AM

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza risks permanent partition between Israel and Hamas as Trump plan falters

Gaza reconstruction may be limited to Israeli-controlled areas, risking long-term division and placing Palestinian sovereignty in limbo.

11 Nov 2025 - 7:44PMvideocam

China-Germany relations

Germany must work with China to build trust after relations turned frosty: expert

Berlin’s foreign policy is bogged down by specifics and lacks vision, observer says.

9 Nov 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has put Beijing offside, making pointed remarks about Taiwan and voicing criticism about Beijing. Photo: EPA

China-EU relations

Beijing protests after Taiwan’s No 2 leader makes speech at European Parliament

Second-in-command Hsiao Bi-khim addresses unofficial conference of lawmakers, prompting ‘indignation’ from Beijing.

8 Nov 2025 - 2:06PMvideocam

100

The EU has a one-China policy through which it maintains business and cultural ties with Taiwan but does not recognise it as a sovereign state. Photo: Shutterstock

China-EU relations

7 minutes on Asia: Europe’s struggle for relevance in the age of Trump’s ‘G2’

A brief discussion on the Indo-Pacific suggests a union that is increasingly peripheral – on China and arguably almost everything else.

7 Nov 2025 - 5:34PMvideocam

China-Germany relations

‘Pain of division’: Germany urged to oppose Taiwan separatist acts

Wang Yi says China ‘unconditionally supported Germany’s reunification’ and it hopes Berlin will support Beijing to safeguard sovereignty.

4 Nov 2025 - 3:15PMvideocam

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Johann Wadephul

Trump may cut US troops in Germany after ‘humiliating’ Iran comment

The German chancellor has drawn the US president’s ire with his remarks about Tehran besting Washington at the negotiating table.

China, Europe and why Beijing took a swing at Iran over the Strait of Hormuz

As transatlantic divorce plays out in Munich, China enjoys the silence

World artists back Palestine rapporteur Francesca Albanese despite criticism

Albanese faces calls from France and Germany to step down over remarks in which she criticised ‘most of the world’ for enabling Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza.

Farewell to the ‘unipolar moment’: Europe scrambles for footing between US and China

French and German foreign ministers revive talks with Beijing counterpart to respond to US-China divide-and-rule tactics and bolster European unity.

Britain in talks with Nato allies over Arctic security as US eyes Greenland

UK minister says talks on the Arctic ‘business as usual’, while Trump posits having Greenland ‘one way or the other’.

Trump plots to buy Greenland, as Nato ally Denmark seethes

The US president has repeatedly refused to rule out using force to seize the Arctic island, but his team says the first option is diplomacy.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Less hostility towards China in new US security strategy is welcome

The plan’s watering down of America’s antagonism towards China bodes well for both nations and the world.

World leaders express horror at Bondi Beach attack as vigils held for victims

Israel’s Herzog condemned the ‘cruel attack on Jews’ by ‘terrorists’; Trump branded the shooting that killed 15 people ‘purely antisemitic’.

Outside In | It’s an expensive Christmas for Americans thanks to Trump’s tariffs

It’s been years since the US president extolled the virtues of trade wars: how much longer before he recognises tariffs harm the US economy?

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

Editorial | Time for Germany to see reason and improve relations with China

With Trump and his frequently anti-European rhetoric, Berlin should see the writing on the wall and move away from its hardline stance.

Hitting China with tariffs should be ‘last resort’, German foreign minister says

During two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Johann Wadephul also calls for Beijing to recognise Europe’s concerns and ‘take action’.

China leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock

Commerce vice-minister urges German industry leaders to leverage their clout to push the European Commission towards a compromise on the anti-subsidy probe.

German foreign minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on Chinese rare earths, chips

Critical minerals, semiconductors and other commodities dominate talks as Johann Wadephul begins trip to China aimed at addressing trade.

Why top German diplomat’s China trip aims to manage rivalry but won’t reset ties

Critical minerals and Ukraine war expected to be top priorities as Germany’s foreign minister travels to China.

The great slowdown: Germany at a standstill as ‘China shock’ hits

As Europe’s biggest economy is pummelled by structural problems and external threats, rocky China ties are compounding the dreary picture.

Beijing rebuffs Takaichi, Macron-Xi talks, key economic meeting

This week: China rejects Takaichi’s Taiwan climbdown, Macron visits Xi in Beijing, US deepens Taiwan ties, PBOC slams stablecoins. Next week: economic planning meeting, November trade and inflation data, Hong Kong Legco elections and more.

Opinion | Stumbling Germany needs a clear strategy on China

Berlin must ditch the fantasy that it can profit without strategic risks, stop acting like a junior partner and decide what it stands for.

German foreign minister in ‘last stages of coordinating’ trip to China

Johann Wadephul also states he backs a speedier form of de-risking and diversifying away from Beijing’s stronghold on critical minerals.

‘Issues remain’: US-Ukraine talks advance, but Europe cautious on Russia deal

Trump hails ‘big progress’ in talks, while Germany confirms US plan was modified with Nato and territorial demands removed.

Premier Li Qiang urges Germany to be ‘rational and pragmatic’ on China policy

Meeting between Li and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on G20 sidelines marks a step towards mending ties.

Outcry forces cancellation of Holocaust artefacts auction in Germany

The controversial sale, titled ‘The System of Terror’, was cancelled after high-level Polish intervention and outcry from Holocaust survivors.

Gaza risks permanent partition between Israel and Hamas as Trump plan falters

Gaza reconstruction may be limited to Israeli-controlled areas, risking long-term division and placing Palestinian sovereignty in limbo.

Germany must work with China to build trust after relations turned frosty: expert

Berlin’s foreign policy is bogged down by specifics and lacks vision, observer says.

Beijing protests after Taiwan’s No 2 leader makes speech at European Parliament

Second-in-command Hsiao Bi-khim addresses unofficial conference of lawmakers, prompting ‘indignation’ from Beijing.

7 minutes on Asia: Europe’s struggle for relevance in the age of Trump’s ‘G2’

A brief discussion on the Indo-Pacific suggests a union that is increasingly peripheral – on China and arguably almost everything else.

‘Pain of division’: Germany urged to oppose Taiwan separatist acts

Wang Yi says China ‘unconditionally supported Germany’s reunification’ and it hopes Berlin will support Beijing to safeguard sovereignty.

Editorial | Less hostility towards China in new US security strategy is welcome