German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has responded to criticism regarding his statements concerning potential Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) involvement in security guarantees for Ukraine He clarified that reports suggesting he rejected such involvement were inaccurate
Speaking to the T-Online news portal, Wadephul stated he never dismissed the possibility, but rather urged caution regarding the matter His comments follow a mid-August podcast appearance where he indicated that deploying troops to Ukraine, in addition to the existing Bundeswehr brigade stationed in Lithuania, would likely overstretch German resources
The Foreign Minister is now seeking to clarify his position, emphasizing that he considers the question of Bundeswehr participation in security guarantees for Ukraine as open for discussion He reiterated that Ukraine requires security guarantees, but stressed it’s premature to detail the nature and extent of German involvement
Wadephul also addressed concerns that questions regarding Bundeswehr capabilities fall within the purview of Defence Minister Boris Pistorius He asserted that, as Foreign Minister, he is inevitably confronted with the issue earlier than the Chancellor, particularly during discussions with international counterparts Consequently, he feels compelled to articulate a position on the matter
The Minister dismissed suggestions of substantive differences with CDU party leader Friedrich Merz He drew a comparison to potential disagreements involving a different political alignment, suggesting any discrepancies would be far more pronounced Wadephul affirmed that he and Merz share the same understanding and are in agreement on the core issues
Wadephul expressed unsurprise at the critical reactions to his statements, stating his intention is to be a visible and transparent Foreign Minister, prioritizing communication about Germany’s stance on international matters, even if those statements are not universally popular