In light of United States President Donald Trump placing into question the fundamental nature of the transatlantic alliance, Wadephul has been clear-eyed in his assessment of the challenge.
In an interview with German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine, he described the recent confrontation by Trump and Vice President JD Vance against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House as “shocking — both emotionally and intellectually.” Wadephul warned that, despite the unpredictability of American politics under Trump, he had not expected “such a reversal of responsibility for the war in Ukraine.”
Although he believes that “America stands by NATO,” Wadephul cautioned that some recent acts and statements in Washington are “disturbing” and do not reflect the relationship between true allies.
He pointed to widening value gaps with the U.S., noting that Germany would not expel journalists from press conferences, cut funding to politically disfavored universities or “so openly favor a technology platform operator like Elon Musk through government action.”
Germany, he argued, must prepare for greater strategic independence. Wadephul stressed, “There is plenty of reason for Europe to become sovereign.”
His nomination in Merz’s incoming grand coalition with the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) comes as European allies grow increasingly concerned about U.S. security guarantees and internal divisions within the European Union.