Federal President, Frank‑Walter Steinmeier,

Esteemed colleagues,

Excellencies, distinguished guests,

Today I’d like to talk about three images.

The first is perhaps less of an image in the literal sense, and more of a figurative one.

An image of remembrance:

Up on the second floor, Federal President – it goes without saying that you’re familiar with this building – there is a large memorial plaque.

The upper part of the plaque bears thirteen names.

These are the names of members of the Foreign Service who felt compelled to follow their conscience during the National Socialist dictatorship. Who were involved in the assassination attempt of 20 July, for example.

Who paid with their lives for their upright stance and their resolute actions.

But there are more names on the plaque:

The names of those who lost their lives in active service after 1945.

They died as victims in wars, for example in Lebanon. Or in terrorist attacks, such as the Red Army Faction attack on the German Embassy in Stockholm. Or not to forget Gerold von Braunmühl, who died at the hands of the Red Army Faction 40 years ago this year.

The individuals behind all these names died in the service of a German foreign policy committed to peace.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The fact that such a foreign policy was allowed to exist again after the atrocities committed during the Third Reich is first and foremost thanks to the Western Allies.

Because in 1945 there was no longer a German foreign policy.

It was not permitted to exist.

Not until the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France gradually returned political responsibility to a nation that reconstituted itself in May 1949 as the Federal Republic of Germany, as a democratic and free state.

In order to also be able to regain the capacity to act in the realm of foreign policy, a foreign ministry was re‑established on the morning of 15 March 1951 – that is, 75 years ago.

And it was once again called the Foreign Office – as it had been since Bismarck’s time.

With Konrad Adenauer as the first Federal Minister.

Ladies and gentlemen,

That was not a given!

After all, the Foreign Office was just as broken as German post‑war society.

The Nazi dictatorship cast its long shadow over terminology, people and structures.

That the Western Allies placed their trust in us was primarily due to individuals who were NOT corrupted by National Socialism.

Who gave us a clear moral compass.

And that brings me to the second image, a photograph.

It shows Konrad Adenauer on 21 September 1949, six days after his election as Federal Chancellor.

He is standing on a carpet reading out a text.

The location was the headquarters of the Allied High Commissioners on the Petersberg in Bonn.

On this day, the Occupation Statute came into force.

This was the regulation that determined which rights the Western Allies – the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France – continued to have in the new Federal Republic.

The protocol for the day dictated that the High Commissioners should stand on a carpet. The delegation of the Federal Republic, on the other hand, was to stand on the bare floor next to them.

Adenauer, however, broke protocol and simply stood on the carpet with the Allies.

And delivered his speech from there.

Nobody protested.

The scene thus became a symbolic gesture of Germany’s newfound self-confidence.

A first step towards political maturity.

This photo is the first in the small exhibition “Steps towards Freedom”, which you can visit here today.

It shows unforgettable moments from the history of the Federal Republic – such as German‑French reconciliation and German reunification.

I would like to sincerely thank all the colleagues who helped organise this exhibition.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Why am I telling you all this?

Not because confronting one’s own past is an end in itself.

But because it is in our best interest today to remember our history.

Because looking back gives us the opportunity to learn for the present and the future.

I firmly believe that diplomacy is more vital now than ever before.

Because we are facing new monumental challenges:

Let me name three things:

Firstly, the international order as we have known it for the past 75 years is under pressure – some are trying to destroy it.

Secondly, our transatlantic relationship is undergoing a profound transformation. In my view, it’s vitally important that we never forget that it was primarily the United States of America which liberated us from the Nazi regime, which shaped the young Federal Republic and enabled us to achieve reunification.

Thirdly, for the first time in generations, Europe is faced with two wars simultaneously – one right on our borders and one in our neighbourhood:

Russia’s war of aggression against its neighbour Ukraine, right in the heart of our own continent – and a war in the Middle East and Gulf region.

Our own security is perhaps in greater danger than it has been in the past 75 years – and I say this as someone who still vividly remembers the tensions of the Cold War from my time as a soldier.

That’s why we in Europe must stand together.

And we must make Europe’s security our top priority.

Striving in the face of these challenges and threats to preserve a future in security, freedom and prosperity – and to rebuild it time and again – is, in my view, THE task of German diplomacy.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Esteemed colleagues,

We all need to change our mindset today.

That we at the Federal Foreign Office are well-versed in adapting our mindset is demonstrated by another exhibition, entitled “The Federal Foreign Office over time”, in the Blaue Halle.

Perhaps you would like to take a look at the history of the Federal Foreign Office from an organisational angle later.

Today, too, new challenges require us to adapt and find new solutions.

We need a modern and effective Foreign Service fit for the future – with the appropriate structures.

That’s why we began reorganising the ministry last November.

From this summer, the structure of our headquarters will reflect the changing global landscape even better.

This also means that we need to re‑evaluate “HOW” we do our work.

After all, artificial intelligence and new communication tools are also transforming our profession.

Incidentally, that’s why even I – as a minister over 60 – am active on social media. Because I’m convinced that we need to do an even better job of explaining foreign policy today – both abroad and at home.

And we need to do so in a way that ensures people in our country have faith in us and in our decisions.

The fact that we were able to regain the trust of our European neighbours after the Second World War was another milestone in foreign policy.

To ensure that this remains the case, I personally fight time and again during budget negotiations to make sure that the Federal Foreign Office has the necessary financial and personnel resources.

And in that connection, I would like to explicitly acknowledge my colleagues from the Bundestag, whom I’m glad to have with us today.

For if we don’t invest these funds now, it will be all the more expensive to defend or regain our freedom later.

But without you, esteemed colleagues around the world, this would of course not be possible.

The last few weeks have shown yet again that the Foreign Service is not like any other service.

In recent weeks, we have seen once more that we can all count on you. This is never more important than in times of crisis.

For this, I would like to express my most sincere gratitude!

Fortunately, we now know that the teams from the missions in Tehran, Baghdad and Erbil are safe again.

But we’re also thinking of our colleagues who are still carrying out their duties every day under difficult conditions at our missions throughout the region.

And I’m grateful that these colleagues and our team here at headquarters helped to bring thousands of German nationals back home to Germany!

Ladies and gentlemen,

So, when we look to the future and ask ourselves how German foreign policy will evolve, it helps to take a look at the Foreign Service Act.

That’s the lawyer in me talking now.

The Foreign Service Act states – and this won’t really surprise you: The Foreign Service maintains the relations of the Federal Republic of Germany with foreign states […].

Maintaining relations around the world has always been – and will continue to be – at the heart of diplomacy.

That means:

gaining a first‑hand impression on the ground.

Through face‑to‑face dialogue.

Reading between the lines. And listening.

In other words, diplomacy is and always will be a people’s business!

I believe this core function is fit to withstand future challenges, regardless of what technology is invented.

No machine can replace human interaction.

And that brings us to the third image I would like to speak about.

Namely, what we will see on stage in a moment.

The future of the Foreign Service.

Our trainees will share their vision for the future of our service with us in the second part.

I’m really looking forward to hearing what they have to say!

But before we move on to the next generation, we would like to welcome you, Federal President, as our keynote speaker and as a German diplomat in active retirement.

As Federal President, and having been Foreign Minister twice, there’s not a lot you don’t know about foreign policy. I know that from the countless conversations to which you have kindly invited me.

You were wrong about one thing, though:

When you said good‑bye to the staff of this great ministry for a second time in 2017 to take up office as Federal President, you said, “This is farewell! And this time I really won’t be coming back ...”

But here you are, Federal President, you’re back!

Welcome, the floor is yours.