Israel supporter and Merz confidant: Meet Germany's new FM, Johann Wadephul
Wadephul, who will be a central figure in the new Merz-led government, has pledged to advance Germany’s policy of support for Israel while prioritizing political solutions in the Middle East.
Johann Wadephul, a long-time foreign policy adviser and close ally of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, officially took office on Tuesday as Germany’s new foreign minister.
Wadephul is the first member of Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in almost 60 years to take on the role of Germany's top diplomat — meaning both the chancellery and the foreign ministry are under the control of a single party. Serving under Wadephul as deputy foreign minister is Turkish-German politician Serap Guler.
The 62-year-old has acted as a foreign policy adviser to Merz and has been the deputy chair of the CDU's parliamentary group below Merz since 2022.
On his personal website, Wadephul wrote that his “main focus is on transatlantic relations and NATO, on relations with China and Russia, as well as on the Balkans and the Middle East.”
