Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) has called for greater unity and cohesion within NATO ahead of his upcoming trips to the United States and South America. Speaking on Monday prior to his departure, he stressed that in a world facing global upheavals and multiple crises, nations can only secure their core interests through strong partnerships.
He emphasized that the United States remains their most vital international partner outside of Europe, noting, “We are allies in defending our freedom.” Wadephul added that euro-Atlantic security relies heavily on maintaining the decisive level of commitment within NATO. He noted that the collective deterrence mechanism is reason enough that Russia under Putin has not dared to attack a member state.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, the minister stated that he will consult with his colleague Marco Rubio regarding the priorities for the NATO summit in Ankara next week. The goal, he asserted, is to achieve a new system of burden-sharing within the alliance and ensure stable, long-term support for Ukraine. He argued that this continued support must convince Moscow that the time has finally come to end the violence and enter into negotiations, pointing out that Ukraine is fully prepared for peace.
