Long before he took office, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful was already a politician deeply engaged in trans-Atlantic relations and keeping a close eye on Central and Eastern Europe.
Within the federal government, he is seen as someone for whom supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia is a major priority. He also has personal ties to Poland, with family roots in the area around Bydgoszcz. He maintains close and friendly relations with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.
DW spoke to Wadefull about these issues at the signing of the German-Polish defense agreement.
Speaking about trans-Atlantic relations, the foreign minister said they are “no longer as direct as they used to be,” adding that the United States nevertheless remains a partner. What he is most concerned about, he said, is the unity of Europe, which is of decisive importance.
Germany’s commitment to NATO allies
The minister said the German-Polish defense agreement outlines mutual defense commitments within NATO. Wadefull stated clearly: “We will not hesitate for a second… If NATO territory is attacked – and this can only mean Russia – German troops will immediately defend every centimeter.”
For Wadefull, support for Ukraine is central to European security policy. A Ukrainian flag also hangs in his office. “We need to support Ukraine together,” the foreign minister said.
He also spoke with unusual frankness about Russia as the aggressor. Asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin could have more stamina, he replied firmly: “Of course not. We will always have the power to want more.” The Russian invasion war fundamentally changed everything, he said.
“Any illusions about a possible understanding with Russia have been destroyed by a war of aggression,” he said.
Although he did not rule out diplomatic efforts, he insisted that they should be conducted “without any illusions”. For the foreseeable future, Europe’s security will have to be organized against Russia, Wadefull stressed.
Poland plays an important role in this context, he said. He said he understands Warsaw’s periodic criticism that major European coordination formats, such as the E3 (Germany, France and Italy) cooperation to support Ukraine, do not include sufficient Polish participation.
“We cannot support Ukraine without Poland,” he said. “The E3 format will not establish a single comma without Poland’s consent,” he said.
Germany’s historical responsibility towards Poland
Overall, relations between Germany and Poland are much better than often assumed, the minister said.
“We are on equal footing,” Wadeful said. He said that Poland is very important for Germany and Europe.
At the same time, Wadefull emphasized Germany’s historical responsibility towards Poland: “The Germans suffer an enormous amount of guilt.”
He views with regret the recurring anti-German sentiment in Poland. “It bothers me,” he said. “But now let us shape the European future together.”
He also argued that remaining survivors of German crimes committed during the occupation in World War II should be compensated.
As for the future of German-Polish relations, Wedefull wishes for one thing above all: normality. He said, “To be honest: boring mediocrity. If we had that, everything would be fine.”
Towards the end of the interview he became more personal. Asked about Poland as a travel destination, he smiled and said things often run more smoothly there. he adds: “To be honest, I generally like the food in Poland better than in Germany.”
This article has been translated from German.