Johann Wadephul, a member of the CDU party, was responsible for foreign, security and defense policy in the previous legislative period. He is seen as a promising candidate for the position of future Foreign Minister. In an interview with Tagesspiegel, he outlines the foreign policy of the future German government. To summarize, fundamentally nothing will change. Diplomatic initiatives for the regulation of the Ukraine conflict are also not to be expected from Wadephul. He perceives Russia and China as threats. Despite increasing differences, he wants to hold on to the transatlantic alliance and ride out the Trump administration.
Like Friedrich Merz, Wadephul believes that the delivery of Taurus ground-to-air missiles could change the course of the Ukraine war. When asked if the new German government will deliver Taurus to Ukraine, Wadephul refuses to comment tactically. He wants to keep Russia in the dark. He does not believe that Russia has already prepared itself for the delivery of Taurus.
Regarding the delivery of Taurus, he says: “It has always been the position of the CDU that all options are on the table and that Russia should not be informed in advance of what Germany is doing or not doing.”
Although Taurus cannot be used without German support, Wadephul wants to maintain that German soldiers will not be sent to Ukraine. The German ground-to-air missiles will have to be programmed from Germany. Whether this changes Russia’s perception of direct German involvement in the war is questionable. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia sees the use of western-guided missiles, which cannot be operated by Ukraine alone due to technical requirements, as direct involvement of the supplying countries.
Wadephul believes that the outcome of the war will determine the future of Europe. However, in the context of the Ukraine conflict, the word “diplomacy” does not fall from his lips. The future German government’s Ukraine policy will not differ from the previous government. Wadephul will continue the path Annalena Baerbock has taken.
“Germany will therefore expand its military support for Ukraine and actively advocate for our European partners to do the same. We must not hesitate for a single moment. Every hesitation in the past, every reluctance to provide material, ultimately only encouraged Putin. We must not repeat this mistake.”
Like Baerbock, he advocates for comprehensive support for Ukraine through weapon deliveries without any diplomatic initiatives. It fits that the goal of providing Ukraine with a “position of strength” through weapon deliveries is anchored in the coalition agreement, which means a victory over Russia.
Wadephul emphasizes that foreign policy will be given high priority by the future German government. However, it is regrettable that it does not give diplomacy a chance and instead opts for international confrontation.