The inaugural session of the People’s Assembly in Syria marks another welcome step in the country’s political transition.

The People’s Assembly is expected to play a crucial role in responding to the legitimate aspirations of all components of the Syrian society.

As part of a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political transition, and within its mandate, one of its major tasks will be to adopt a new Constitution and contribute to substantial reforms for the future of Syria.

The success of the political transition will depend, among other things, on the Assembly’s ability to pave the way towards an inclusive political system, grounded in rule of law, political pluralism and transparent elections, enabling the participation of all Syrians without any discrimination on any ground, and upholding their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The adoption of measures to build functioning and representative public institutions and to advance accountability and transitional justice will be key for national reconciliation and long-term stability.

The EU remains fully committed to a peaceful, stable and inclusive Syrian transition, as well as to the recovery and reconstruction of the country, accompanied by humanitarian aid, to provide basic services to people in need.

The European Union and its Member states stand ready to engage with the People’s Assembly and its members, both to support capacity building and good governance and to work together towards achieving common goals, including ensuring respect for international law and the UN Charter. We reiterate our commitment to deepen EU-Syria partnership to the benefit of the Syrian people, to move towards a possible future Association Agreement, as well as the full reintegration of Syria into the Euro-Mediterranean space and in the global trade and connectivity networks.

Foreign Minister Wadephul issued the following statement today (15 July 2026) prior to his departure for Helsinki:

Finland’s accession changed NATO. The country’s border with Russia is longer than that of all other NATO partners together. Finland knows from experience that peace and security cannot be taken for granted. With Finland, NATO is stronger and more effective than it was before Putin attacked Ukraine. That is a real security gain for Europe.

At the same time, we must all realise that Europe’s security today is being defended not only in Ukraine. It is being determined at the Finnish-Russian border, in the Baltic Sea and in elections in Europe – in other words, wherever Russia is trying to exert a harmful influence and to divide our societies.

With its war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has challenged the very essence of the European security order. We are responding to this threat. The Europeans’ decisions at the NATO summits in The Hague and Ankara underscore our resolve to counter Russia’s constant provocations with an enhanced deterrent and defence capability. At the summit in Ankara, we NATO partners pledged 140 billion euro to Ukraine for defence, so that Putin finally grasps that the only road to peace is serious negotiations.

My trip to Finland will take me not only to Helsinki but also to the Finnish-Russian border. Finland’s resilience and civil emergency preparedness show us how we too can counter challenges even more effectively. Because they don’t merely begin with a crisis, but with preparations for one. Defensive capabilities are not an abstract concept; they are a genuine prerequisite for peace and security. With its comprehensive approach to security, Finnish society shows us how all sections of the population have a role to play. We can learn from this in Europe, so as to equip ourselves better to fight sabotage, cyberattacks and disinformation.

At the same time, Finland is one of the countries whose security and prosperity – like ours – are particularly dependent on free trade and secure supply routes. A safe Baltic Sea is crucial for 95% of Finland’s supply of goods. That’s why we will not allow Moscow to target critical infrastructure or to endanger supply routes, for instance using its dilapidated shadow fleet. We NATO partners will therefore continue to strengthen the Baltic Sentry Mission.

Moreover, Germany and Finland are united in their determination to enhance Europe’s competitiveness. This requires a modern EU budget that sets the proper priorities. We are agreed that we need to take decisions and dismantle bureaucratic obstacles in Brussels more quickly and more efficiently. Global energy prices also show us that we need to work with European companies to resolutely drive forward the rapid expansion of key future sectors, such as a productive European hydrogen economy that ensures secure, future-oriented value creation for all Baltic partners.

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union urge the Rapid Support Forces and allied armed groups to immediately cease any action likely to lead to further atrocities or endanger civilians in El-Obeid, including drone strikes and impediments to humanitarian access. Following the atrocities committed during the Rapid Support Force’s siege and attack on El Fasher, we remain gravely concerned about alleged severe violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law across Kordofan and Darfur regions, as well as Blue Nile in Sudan.

We urge the Rapid Support Forces, as well as the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied armed groups, to abide by their obligations under the rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable. Civilians must be protected. We call on parties to the conflict to guarantee safe voluntary passage, and to facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access into and around El-Obeid and throughout the country. 

We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and allied armed groups to immediately cease hostilities and to engage in direct negotiations in good faith. We call for the Sudanese Armed Forces to cease their repeated rejection of the proposed de-escalation measures and for the Rapid Support Forces to implement their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration, which they have consistently failed to do so far. 

We support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Pekka Haavisto, to advance de-escalation in El-Obeid and support ongoing broader efforts by the Quad and the Quintet to achieve a humanitarian truce, followed by a permanent ceasefire and an independent, inclusive, transparent and civilian-led political dialogue.

We are united in our determination to promote accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed by all parties to the conflict. We remain committed to supporting victims and survivors, including through efforts to advance guarantees of non-recurrence. 

We call upon all external actors, as stated in the Berlin principles, to cease providing, directly or indirectly, armed, logistical, or financial support to the parties to the conflict and to refrain from any action that could exacerbate tensions and fuel the conflict. We call on the United Nations Security Council to expand the arms embargo on Darfur region to the entire Sudanese territory. 

We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. We reject all unilateral initiatives that risk leading to the country’s partition and remain committed to support the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people.

Today Commissioner Bankole and myself kick-started our strategic dialogue between the AU and the German Federal Office on Foreign and Security Policy.

To summarize: we share values, interests and objectives. Peace, security and prosperity are at the core of our interests. Our relations are of growing importance. 

Let me make a few remarks:

1. Germany is proud to be the AU´s biggest bilateral partner. Since 2000, we have invested more than 1 billion EUR in „African led solutions" and have shown strong political support. We should not forget that this is German tax payers´ money as is a quarter of each Euro spent by the EU towards the AU.

2. Today we talked about global challenges. We can best tackle them together. This holds true for peace and security, but also for climate change, health, AI, cyber, trade and many other areas of our cooperation. 

3. With Commissioner Bankole we discussed the very demanding current geopolitical situation: 

The war in the Middle East and its implications for our economies. Russia´s war on aggression in Ukraine that has implications for the security in Europe and far beyond. On this my position is clear: Russia started this war 4 1/2 years ago without any acceptable justification. And it´s on Russia to end this war by showing willingness for meaningful negotiations. Ukraine is ready for this. And of course, we discussed the need for peaceful solutions to conflicts on the African Continent, such as Sudan, on which my government has organized a conference in Berlin in April. We also spoke about the conflicts in the Great Lakes and in Somalia. AUSSOM is the biggest mission of the AU and plays an important role. We also underlined the need to fight against transnational terrorism across the region.

4. Multilateralism is under attack. We emphasized our joint commitment to further promote multilateralism. This should include an adequate representation of African voices in international fora including in the UN Security Council.

The AU and Germany are bound by a partnership for more than two decades. I have invited Commissioner Bankole to continue our strategic dialogue on Foreign and Security Policy next year in Berlin to give it an annual basis.

Foreign Minister Wadephul issued the following statement today (13 July 2026) prior to his departure for Bodø, Norway:

Norway is an essential partner for Germany in the High North as regards values, security and trade. The High North has become a geopolitical hotspot of strategic importance for our common security. Particularly in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, it has become abundantly clear that following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, we need to realign our security, defence and deterrence vis-à-vis Russia at NATO’s eastern and northern flanks. Europe’s transatlantic lifelines – data cables, energy infrastructure, air freight flight paths and increasingly shipping routes in the Arctic – run through the North Atlantic.

Both economically and militarily, Russia is becoming ever more active in a region that is of enormous strategic importance for our security – and it has no qualms about using provocation and hybrid attacks. China is also systematically boosting its presence in the Arctic. Climate change is increasing the geopolitical drift. Temperatures in the Arctic are rising four times faster than in the rest of the world. Melting ice is opening up new maritime routes and access to critical raw materials such as rare earths, thus creating new competition at the Arctic latitudes. This makes it all the more crucial that we NATO Allies stand up together for stability and security in the High North.

Germany and Norway stand side by side in NATO. We are constantly strengthening the Alliance’s northern flank against both new and old threats. The 212CD class submarine co-developed by Germany and Norway, which Canada decided last week to procure for its submarine fleet, vividly exemplifies our outstanding cooperation. This cooperation will bring about the largest, most powerful and most modern conventional submarine fleet in NATO and take our transatlantic defence capabilities in the North Atlantic to a completely new level. Our soldiers’ capabilities are also increasing. Over a thousand German servicemen and -women took part in the NATO Exercise Cold Response in Norway this year – a clear sign that we are preparing together to meet new developments in the North Atlantic. In this context, I will also visit the Norwegian Joint Headquarters in Reitan that are vital for monitoring the entire region.

Be it for the future of our energy supply, such as hydrogen production, safeguarding critical supply chains and the supply of raw materials, or technological progress, for example in space research in Norway and Sweden, Norway’s security in the High North is intrinsically linked to our own security. We regard the northern region – a key strategic area with strong and reliable partners – as of the utmost importance. That is why I will travel on to Finland on Wednesday.

12 July marks the tenth anniversary of the award issued by the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning the South China Sea (‘the 2016 Arbitral Award’).

The 2016 Arbitral Award, adopted by the independent and impartial arbitral tribunal in accordance with UNCLOS, is final and legally binding upon the parties to the proceedings. As a landmark decision in the peaceful settlement of disputes, it must be respected and fully implemented by the parties involved. 

The EU reaffirms its unwavering commitment to UNCLOS, which reflects and codifies customary international law and sets out the universal and unified legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. The EU underlines the critical importance of upholding the freedoms, rights and duties set out in UNCLOS, in particular the freedom of navigation and overflight, including the right of transit passage, as essential to regional stability, global security, and the maintenance of safe, free and open sea routes. 

The EU reiterates its support to ongoing efforts by ASEAN and China to conclude an effective, substantive and legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, that would be in line with UNCLOS. All tensions and disputes must be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means, in accordance with international law, with the Charter of the United Nations and UNCLOS at its core.

The EU is deeply concerned by the steady increase of tensions and dangerous incidents in the South China Sea and firmly opposes any unilateral actions that threaten to undermine regional stability and the international order based on international law and the rule of law, and remains steadfast in its commitment to safe, free and open maritime routes in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Republic of the Philippines, Romania, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Philippines-China South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award.

We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable, and rules-based, anchored in international law, and commemorate the 10th anniversary of the July 12, 2016, Arbitral Tribunal’s landmark and unanimous decision on the South China Sea constituted under Annex VII of UNCLOS.

We reaffirm that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with UNCLOS.  We reaffirm that the Award rendered ten years ago by the Arbitral Tribunal is a significant milestone and is final, legally binding, and definitive between China and the Philippines with respect to the maritime entitlements and claims addressed by the Arbitral Tribunal.

We reaffirm the Arbitral Tribunal’s decision that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, including those based on “historic rights”.  We underscore the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as other internationally lawful uses of the sea, as reflected in UNCLOS. 

We reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilizing or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region. We reaffirm our strong opposition to the use of coast guard, military, and maritime militia forces to harass, obstruct, or intimidate lawful operations by other States at sea or in the air, and in so doing endanger the safety of personnel and fishermen and seriously degrade regional peace and security.  We urge the parties to abide by the 2016 Award and resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and other lawful mechanisms in accordance with international law.

We remain steadfast in our support for a free and open Indo-Pacific and reiterate our commitment to promoting our shared vision with ASEAN of the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity driven by vibrant lawful commerce.

Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance Lars Castellucci issued the following statement today (12 July 2026) prior to his departure for Tripoli:

A mere 300 kilometres of the Mediterranean Sea separate Libya from the European Union. The country forms part of the EU’s immediate neighbourhood. Developments there affect us in Europe. This applies in particular to displacement and migration movements from Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Since the conflict in the Sudan broke out again in 2023, around a million people have fled to Libya. As a result, the country faces humanitarian, migration and societal challenges, which are exacerbated by the ongoing political crisis that remains unresolved since the Arab Spring.

During my visit to Libya, I will be briefed on the situation facing refugees and migrants, as well as the Libyan communities hosting them. We must work with Libya and other actors along the migration routes to find solutions in order to spare those seeking protection from undertaking the perilous journey to Europe. We need to counter how people are increasingly getting used to the situation in the Mediterranean Sea – every death by drowning is a death too many.

At the same time, I am closely following the reports on the human rights situation in Libya. I am particularly concerned about the disadvantaged population groups, so I will also speak with representatives of civil society about their work and scope for action. The focus here will be on exploring how Germany can support Libya in improving living conditions for the people of Libya and strengthening civil-society engagement.

Background information:

The Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance, Lars Castellucci, is visiting the Libyan capital, Tripoli, from 12 to 15 July 2026.

By hosting the Berlin Conferences in 2020 and 2021, Germany helped make it possible to end the civil war in Libya. Despite this, the country has still not held national elections. Germany is working to ensure that a democratic transitional period comes to a successful conclusion with the holding of free, transparent and inclusive parliamentary and presidential elections. In this context, Germany is supporting the endeavours of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), which is facilitating a broad and inclusive political process.

Germany’s Human Rights Commissioner will meet representatives of Libyan public authorities, national and international NGOs, civil society and UNSMIL in Tripoli. The developments in the fields of human rights, migration, humanitarian assistance and political ownership will be important topics on the agenda of these talks. In 2025, Germany supported Libya in the care of vulnerable people by providing 2.1 million euro via international organisations. Germany also supports projects aimed at empowering women and young people in society, enhancing the healthcare system, and strengthening basic services and municipal development.

We condemn Iran’s reckless attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and countries in the region including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan.
Respect for sovereignty over territorial seas and freedom of navigation are fundamental principles of international law.

We reaffirm our continued support for the swift and full resumption of international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and express full solidarity with our Gulf and regional partners.
We also call for the resumption of the ceasefire and of negotiations.
 

The European Union (EU) is seriously alarmed by the situation in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan. A major military build-up by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) threatens the city which currently shelters 500,000 civilians, including approximately 100,000 displaced persons.

The RSF must immediately cease all military operations in and around El Obeid that put civilians at risks. El Obeid cannot become another El Fasher.

International humanitarian and human rights laws, including the protection of civilians in particular women and girls and civilian infrastructure, must be fully respected by all parties to the conflict.

Any attack that targets the civilian population, prevents their safe passage or any action that intentionally obstructs humanitarian access to persons in need constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and will lead the EU to consider robust measures against those responsible.

The EU urges all foreign actors in line with their commitments in the Berlin principles to immediately end any direct or indirect support which enables and intensifies the conflict to continue.

The EU calls on all parties to the conflict to return to negotiations for a lasting ceasefire, to ensure rapid, safe, unimpeded, principled and sustained humanitarian access, to support a Sudanese-led civilian political process leading to the restoration of civilian governance, and to restore and to uphold accountability and respect for international law.

As a member of the Quintet, the EU reaffirms its commitment to the Sudanese people and will continue to support efforts to end the suffering, to promote justice and accountability, and restore peace in a Sudanese-led transition to civilian rule.
 

A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement (7 July 2026): 

The Federal Government is to quintuple its support for Yad Vashem’s remembrance work over the coming years, thereby strengthening the special relationship between Germany and Israel still further. 

The Federal Government recognizes the enduring responsibility of the German people for the Shoah and its consequences and acknowledges the particular significance to the Jewish people of Yad Vashem, the central Holocaust memorial. 

At a time when only very few survivors remain to bear witness to the crime against humanity that was the Shoah, the remembrance work conducted by Yad Vashem and other memorial sites is invaluable. As a global documentation centre for the Holocaust, Yad Vashem pursues the work of remembrance via its educational programmes and with the use of modern technologies.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar signed an agreement today to increase Germany’s financial support for Yad Vashem, which has been in place since 2012, from one million to five million euro annually until the end of the decade. 

These funds are needed especially now and in the coming years in order to digitise Yad Vashem’s vast collections and to facilitate wider-reaching European and global educational programmes promoting awareness of the Holocaust, particularly for younger target groups. 

Foreign Minister Wadephul stated the following in this regard: 

Yad Vashem plays a crucial role in ensuring that eyewitness accounts and written testimonies are found, secured, compiled scientifically and conserved in line with the latest standards, as well as digitised and made accessible to a broad general public, including online. Contributing to this effort and thereby resolutely countering the growing trend of Holocaust trivialisation and even denial remains a duty and a commitment for my country. 

Background information: 

Today, the Federal Government approved the signing of the protocol amending the Agreement of 10 June 2020 between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the State of Israel concerning Financial Support for Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority for Holocaust Research, Documentation, Education and Commemoration. 

Foreign Minister Wadephul signed the protocol during his trip to Israel together with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar. 

Foreign Minister Wadephul issued the following statement on 7 July 2026 prior to his departure for Israel:

I am visiting a close friend and partner. The State of Israel is under threat from many sides, and global antisemitism is on the rise. Furthermore, we are bound by a mutual security partnership. At the same time, however, we know that the pressing questions of regional security in the Middle East can only be answered within a framework of shared understanding among all the countries involved. Before taking part in the NATO summit in Ankara, I am therefore travelling again to Israel for talks with my Israeli counterpart. My aim is to help foster understanding and lasting peace in the region.

The agreement between Israel and Lebanon offers hope and the chance to resolve a decades-long conflict. Germany wants to support Israel and Lebanon on this path. It is vital that Lebanon reliably enforces the state’s monopoly on the use of force, and clear security guarantees for Israel are equally crucial. If all sides take responsibility, this process can lead to stability, security and lasting peace.

I will also discuss the negotiations between the United States and Iran with my Israeli colleague. The ceasefire that has been achieved has yet to be consolidated. It is up to Iran to seize the opportunity for constructive negotiations.

We are also keeping a close eye on the situation in Gaza: during these hot summer months, the water shortage is currently reaching dangerous levels. Full access for humanitarian aid workers and their supplies is essential in order to improve the desperate situation of people in Gaza.

Our relations with Israel can never be seen independently of the responsibility that Germany bears for the security of the only Jewish state in light of the Shoah – that most atrocious crime against humanity committed by Germans. Part of this responsibility is to oppose any form of historical distortion or relativisation, including by ensuring that the historical truth is passed on to future generations even after the last survivors have left us. To this end, the Federal Government and the Länder are working intensively together with the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. My visit to Israel is also intended to strengthen and further expand this cooperation.

Foreign Minister Wadephul issued the following statement on the decision by the Canadian Government to join the German-Norwegian submarine cooperation, with TKMS as the preferred supplier:

I am pleased that we were able to convince Canada of the benefits of our German-Norwegian cooperation for the Canadian submarine programme.

In this way, Canada has sent a clear message on cohesion in the transatlantic alliance. Together, we are making the Atlantic smaller.

With the German company TKMS as the preferred supplier, Canada has chosen the best conventional submarines in the world. This step will strengthen and deepen our partnership in the transatlantic alliance for the long term. Canada, Norway and Germany are thus also starting a new chapter in defence and industry policy.

Germans and Brazilians are often associated with very different strengths: 

In Germany, we take pride in precision, punctuality and meticulous planning. 

In Brazil, you have a remarkable ability to adapt – to make everything work, even when the plan changes.

When it comes to critical raw materials and evolving supply chains, we need both planning and the flexibility to turn those plans into reality.

And that is why we are here today.

Germany and Brazil may be separated by thousands of kilometers. But today’s conference is about building a bridge over this distance – a bridge in the field of critical raw materials. A bridge that connects our strengths, our economies, our industries, and our shared ambitions for the future.

For Germany, diversifying our supply chain for critical raw materials is a top priority.

Our goal is clear: to reduce dependencies on individual suppliers and to foster closer cooperation with reliable partners such as Brazil.

Germany underscored this objective just two weeks ago at the G7 Summit in France, where a non-binding G7-Critical Minerals Resilience and Production Alliance was launched – open to engagement with likeminded partners.

In our joint effort to strengthen and diversify global supply chains for critical raw materials we see Brazil as a key partner: With the world's second-largest reserves of rare earths and a broad range of other critical raw materials, Brazil holds massive strategic importance. 

However, we are convinced, that our partnership goes far beyond resources in the ground.

What makes Brazil such an important partner for Germany is that we share the same interests and values: First, diversified and resilient trade relationships. And second, reliable, long-term partnerships built on trust.

Ladies and gentlemen, Germany too brings important strengths to this partnership: We offer a strong demand for critical raw materials and an attractive market for Brazilian companies. 

Also, German industry contributes extensive expertise in mining, processing, advanced manufacturing, technology, and research – including companies that are ready to invest in Brazil.

In short, our ambition is clear: to work together with Brazil across the entire raw materials value chain – from exploration and extraction to processing, recycling, innovation, and the development of new technologies.

The business delegation accompanying me today represents our commitment to deepening industrial cooperation and creating mutually beneficial outcomes.
At the same time, we believe that successful cooperation must go beyond simply securing supply.

We are equally interested in local value creation, strengthening processing capacities, and supporting industrial development in Brazil. We are also committed to promoting high environmental, social, and governance standards – across the entire value chain.

In other words, the bridge we are building should not only be strong, but also sustainable and beneficial for companies and communities on both sides.

Ladies and gentlemen, in 2024, Germany and Brazil concluded a Raw Materials Partnership – an excellent foundation for taking our cooperation to the next level.

Now, the time has come to deliver concrete results.

Today’s conference is about bringing together the key actors; about bringing together the best of both worlds. 

Thank you very much.

I am really very happy to be here – 

all the more so since I actually intended to come to Brazil in early March and had to postpone my visit because of the war in Iran. 

I was planning back then to start with sincere congratulations to Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. It's a few months now, of course, since he won the gold in the Olympic giant slalom. And these days everyone’s talking about the football World Cup – not the easiest subject for us Germans at the moment. 

But I’m still impressed with his achievement: the first South American to stand on the top step of that podium at the Winter Olympics. He shows that it’s always possible to accomplish something unexpected.

Ladies and gentlemen, another outstanding achievement early this year was the conclusion of the EU-Mercosur agreement. 

Quite a few observers also found that unexpected. The obstacles had been high, and the negotiations had taken 25 years. 

But in the end, we were united by a shared will to succeed; the signatures were made, and the agreement stands. 

We acted as global circumstances could tolerate no further delay. Most recently, the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz demonstrated painfully how vital free trade is to the businesses of our regions. And the problem remains unresolved. 

When container ships and tankers are suddenly stuck for weeks on end, when long-established global processes grind to a halt from one day to the next, it becomes – in globalised industrialised countries like Germany and Brazil – a real stress test for business planning.

That’s not to mention the simultaneous challenge of volatile tariffs for major export markets and the growing pressure on international trade rules.

What we are facing together is not an easy situation. 

So I’m not exaggerating when I say that our agreement is a historic milestone for our two regions – 

because, together, we form one of the largest free trade areas in the world, with a market of more than 700 million consumers; 

because we, the states of the EU and Mercosur, have set a strategic marker, in difficult times, in favour of open, rules-based and mutually beneficial trade;

and because it demonstrates that we will stand together as democracies committed to the rule of law and unite our societies that are built on the same values.
Ladies and gentlemen, in 2026, we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between our two countries – relations which are also reflected in a strong economic bond.

At a bilateral trade volume of around EUR 21 billion in goods in 2025, Brazil is Germany’s most important trading partner in South America by far. German companies export goods worth almost EUR 13 billion to Brazil every year. 

That’s why I’m accompanied on this trip by a sizeable business delegation – from important sectors of German industry, such as energy, commodities and defence. 

At the same time, Germany is also Brazil’s most important trading partner in Europe. There are more than a thousand German-Brazilian companies in this country, contributing significantly to Brazil’s GDP and generating thousands of jobs.

German companies are investing in mechanical engineering, the automobile industry, the chemical and electronics sectors – and, increasingly, in forward-looking sectors like hydrogen and renewables.

In its turn, Brazil is not just an important supplier of critical raw materials but also has one of the cleanest electricity mixes in the world, with huge potential for wind, solar and biomass energy. So your country is an important partner for us when it comes to green hydrogen too. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the total volume of trade between the European Union and Mercosur is currently EUR 111 billion a year – with Germany accounting for some 25% of the trade in goods.

The EU-Mercosur agreement now enables our companies to further diversify their trade flows, increase investment in both directions and thereby also accelerate innovation. It lowers tariffs, reduces obstacles to investment and provides legal and planning certainty for businesses on both sides.

Not for nothing were Germany and Brazil among the strongest advocates for the agreement. 

Let me take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks for the strong leadership Brazil has shown. Thank you for making the speed of your ratification emulate Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. 

I personally argued within the EU for the agreement to be provisionally brought into force on 1 May this year, because I am convinced that we need to quickly exploit those mutual benefits now and so silence any remaining doubts. 

I say to you, leaders of business, representatives of associations, make use of this agreement. Let’s use it together to further expand our economic ties and reinforce the industrial foundations of our economies – from critical raw materials and green energy to high-tech sectors. 

I now look forward to hearing from you about what expectations you have and how you are already harnessing the benefits of the agreement. And of course, I want to hear how you think it can be still be improved in future. 

Thank you. 

A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (2 July 2026) on the Russian airstrikes on Ukraine:

We condemn the massive Russian airstrikes on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine last night in the strongest terms. Once again, Putin’s Russia has subjected the Ukrainian capital and large areas of the country to heavy drone and missile attacks. People were killed or injured while they slept, homes destroyed and civilian infrastructure including a medical facility severely damaged. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.

The devastating images of last night’s destruction show once more that Russia is continuing to wage its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine with undiminished brutality. Putin is showing absolutely no willingness to negotiate. He persists in mounting missile and drone attacks against the population, while Russia is suffering great losses on the frontline in the context of its aggression against Ukraine. That is why Germany, together with its partners, is increasing the pressure on Russia. We are continuing our support for Ukraine in its fight to defend itself. This support will also be high up on the agenda of the NATO summit in Ankara next week.

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, Ambassador, Mr Lamlé, 

Allow me first of all to thank you personally for your service, and your wife, too, of course, for her kind hospitality. Thank you for postponing your retirement specially in order to welcome me here today. 

It really is a great pleasure for me to be here in Buenos Aires. I intended to make this trip back in the spring, but unfortunately it had to be put off because of the war in Iran. 

And now I have to admit that coming to Argentina during a World Cup is not exactly the easiest time for a German Foreign Minister. Though it has to be said that it was even harder yesterday in Paraguay. 

Here in Argentina, these days, it’s all about Lionel Messi, whom we all admire. He has just surpassed Miroslav Klose as the all-time top goalscorer in the World Cup. 

Of course, we all know that titles are not won by individual players; one star is not enough. 

Titles are won by a team.

With each member playing their part. 

Alongside partners you can rely on.

Ladies and gentlemen, that is true not only in football, but also in international politics. States, too, need reliable partners. 

And not only in the good times. But especially when – as we are currently seeing on the world stage – the challenges are increasing. At a time when democracies are coming under pressure both from within and from outside. At a time when crises and wars dominate day-to-day politics. At a time when international trade routes are becoming more fragmented and when there appear to be fewer and fewer international rules. 

Precisely at a time like this, we need partners who think in the long term. Who build trust. Partners who don’t merely show up when there’s something to gain, but are consistently there. 

For Germany, Argentina is just such a partner. 

As is Germany for Argentina. For that we are grateful. 

Ladies and gentlemen, our two countries are inextricably linked through their historical and cultural relations. 

Last year we celebrated a special anniversary together: “200 years of German immigration to Argentina”. For the first German settlers arrived here back in 1825. 

That marked the beginning of a long history of migration that to this day makes itself felt in this country in many areas: even in 2026 you see books by Kafka, Freud and Goethe in the cafes of Buenos Aires; every evening in the Tango Porteño, you hear the bandoneon – a German instrument. And as a trained lawyer, of course, I’m delighted to hear that Argentine lawyers are also familiar with the German criminal lawyers Jakobs and Roxin.

But we are also linked by difficult chapters in our pasts: our countries are united by the awareness that history cannot by rewritten. That remembrance and reckoning with the past need to be an integral part of our society – particularly when it comes to the younger generation. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Argentina, also on behalf of the Jewish community, for assuming the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance this year. As the first Latin American country to hold the Presidency, you are a role model for the entire region. 

Ladies and gentlemen, we Germans sometimes have the reputation of being reserved. This may be particularly true of Northern Germans like myself. 

Unlike Argentines, we often need a while before we open up and make friends. But once we have embarked on a friendship, then it lasts.

Let me give you two examples. The German-Argentine Centre for Higher Education is something very special for Germany. The only other country apart from Argentina with which we have an equivalent structure is our European neighbour and close partner, France. 

More than forty universities in Argentina and Germany offer binational courses leading to double degrees. When they finish their studies, in other words, the students are immediately qualified and ready for both labour markets. So when our universities work together, they are already thinking about the next generation. 

And when German companies invest, they do so for decades. Siemens carried out its first project in Argentina as early as 1857: the installation of a telegraph line along the first stretch of the Ferrocarril del Oeste. The company also played a major part in the construction of the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, one of the city’s prime landmarks.

Today, after our joint – indeed, one should say historic – progress this year on the EU-Mercosur Agreement, it is up to each and every one of us to breathe life into the agreement and further strengthen our economic partnership. 

Argentina has important raw materials, like copper and lithium. Germany, on the other hand, has the necessary cutting-edge technology to process them. 

This makes us natural partners. 

Another manifestation of this partnership is the recently concluded long-term agreement on the export of liquefied natural gas from Argentina to Germany. Another is the new Daimler truck production plant in Zárate.

However – and here I am in particular addressing the business representatives among us – we can and must expand this partnership even further. This will enable us to benefit from each other. 

Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately Germany is no longer in the World Cup, but we will cheer on the Latin American teams and share your excitement. We look forward to the rest of an exciting tournament.

Let me repeat what Ambassador Lamlé said: Argentina, with us, is part of the Western family. 

On that note, here’s to a pleasant evening! I look forward to talking with you. 

Before departing for Washington DC, the Mercosur Summit in Paraguay, as well as Argentina and Brazil, Foreign Minister Wadephul issued the following statement today (29 June 2026):

In a world marked by global upheaval and multicrises, the only way for us to uphold our core interests is through strong partnerships. Freedom, security and prosperity – these are the goals by which I am guided as Foreign Minister. And we as Germans and Europeans are closely linked to our natural partners on the continents of North and South America. That is why I am again visiting both on this trip.

The United States is and will remain our most important partner outside Europe. We stand together as allies in defending our freedom. Our Euro-Atlantic security decisively depends on us retaining our steadfast resolve within NATO in the future, too. It is for good reason that Putin’s Russia does not dare attack a NATO Member Country: our collective defence is effective. During talks with my counterpart Marco Rubio, I will discuss how, at next week’s NATO Summit in Ankara, we can achieve new burden-sharing within the Alliance, as well as stable, long-term support for Ukraine. Support that will make Moscow realise that the time has finally come to stop the killing in Ukraine and sit down at the negotiating table. Ukraine has for some time now been willing to make peace – and we Europeans are willing to provide all the support we can in this regard. With respect to Iran’s destabilising role in the Near and Middle East and beyond, we are united in working towards ensuring that the MoU between the US and Iran becomes a permanent and viable solution.

Iran’s risky strategy regarding the Strait of Hormuz illustrates that security policy and economic policy are inextricably linked. For a major economy like Germany, security and global influence also depend significantly on our economic strength. The more that global supply chains are impacted by trade conflicts and crises, the more economically strong, diverse and resilient we must become.

The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement is a milestone for trade and presents tremendous growth potential for Germany and Europe. 31 robust democracies with a combined population of more than 700 million that account for 20% of global GDP are placing free trade over tariffs, and competition over protectionism. At the Mercosur Summit in Paraguay and during my talks in Argentina and Brazil, I want to explore how the world’s largest free trade area can generate growth and prosperity for both sides. The preparations have been put in place. German companies must now seize the opportunities they have in the Mercosur countries. That is why I will be accompanied by business representatives from the energy, security and defence, and raw materials sectors. Especially with regard to rare earths and critical minerals, we have the opportunity to diversify our supply chains via South America and at the same time to build sustainable supply chains. This, too, will be a focus of my talks in Argentina and Brazil.

Brazil and Germany are strategic partners. Only a few months ago, Brazil was the Partner Country at HANNOVER MESSE, and intergovernmental consultations were held in this context. Brazil’s economy has immense potential for innovation, including in the field of sustainable transformation. We also want to work together to give even more of the country’s well-trained skilled workers access to our job market, as they are urgently needed here.

Our shared interests with Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil go beyond business. We all have liberal democratic societies and are firmly committed to a stable international order that is based on rules. Our ties extend deep into our respective societies: in parts of Argentina, nearly one-third of the population has German roots. In Brazil, German is the second most spoken language. Especially now that the World Cup is taking place on the American continent, our shared passion for football can be felt. I am therefore very much looking forward to having some time to play football with young players, during which I will be joined by the German-Brazilian footballer Cacau, who is travelling with me as sports ambassador. Together, we want to strengthen for the future those human and cultural connections that already tie our countries together.

Minister of State Serap Güler prior to her visit to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Jamaica (28 June 2026):

Costa Rica, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are true partners with whom Germany has had close political and economic links for many years. Germany is increasingly turning towards Latin America and the Caribbean – as demonstrated by the Federal President’s and Federal Foreign Minister’s recent trips.

We want to deepen political alliances and expand economic ties in the region. Latin America and the Caribbean is a greater region comprising more than 30 states, most of which are committed to democracy and the rule of law, to the market economy and the welfare state, to a multilateral, values-based international order. It is very much in our own interest to comprehensively expand our relations with them. I would like to use my trip to emphasise how closely and how well we work together in a spirit of partnership, and how our trade relations have grown in recent years.

It is true both for Germany and for the Caribbean states that we are better together. My trip will focus on how we can work together even more closely – bilaterally, regionally and multilaterally. In the Dominican Republic, for example, we will hold in‑depth talks on the situation in neighbouring Haiti and the multilateral Gang Suppression Force set up by the United Nations in late 2025. Germany has long supported the international community’s efforts in Haiti. We will also discuss the economic cooperation that takes place within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). And we will promote the EU’s Global Gateway connectivity initiative, which is creating infrastructure partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean as elsewhere and thus contributing to the resilience of supply chains. Furthermore, in Santo Domingo I will have the honour of presenting the Unidas Prize on behalf of the women’s network set up in 2019 by Germany together with Latin American partners.

We were deeply shocked by the devastating double earthquake in Venezuela on Wednesday. It is a humanitarian disaster, and the international community as well as we in Germany are offering solidarity and support. This, too, is a message to our partners in the region.

Germany needs reliable partnerships around the world now more than ever. In the face of far-reaching geopolitical change, we must make our partnerships more resilient. With this trip, I would like to consolidate our cooperation in Central America and the Caribbean and align it with the new dynamics and global political changes that we are seeing.

The United States of America, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, chaired by Sweden, issue the following statement on the situation in the Great Lakes region:

The ICG participated in the Great Lakes Stakeholders and Experts Retreat, organised by the Office of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region and Switzerland in Nairobi on 17–18 June. The ICG exchanged with signatory countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework, representatives of regional and international mediation and facilitation teams, regional organisations, including the African Union (AU), the East African Community (EAC), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as independent experts and civil society representatives. The meeting took stock of peace, security, and economic dynamics in the Great Lakes Region. This includes the ongoing efforts by the African Union mediator and co-facilitators, the progress made under the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, led by the United States, and the work of the Qatari mediation leading the Doha process. A set of concrete options in support of ongoing peace efforts, and the implementation of commitments already made, were identified.

On 19 June, the ICG convened in Addis Ababa alongside the Representative of the AU-appointed Mediator Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of the Togolese Republic, and the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, with the aim of further strengthening the dialogue and cooperation with the AU.

The delegation held meetings with the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, H.E. Bankole Adeoye, and the AU-appointed facilitator and former President of Ethiopia, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde. Discussions focused on current developments in the Great Lakes Region, the complementarity of mediation efforts, and the humanitarian situation in eastern DR Congo, including the ongoing Ebola outbreak. In addition, the delegation engaged in a dedicated dialogue with AU representatives on partnerships for sustainable peace.

The delegation also held consultations with civil society partners and researchers from the Great Lakes Region, including representatives of women and youth, with the participation of the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, H.E. Liberata Mulamula. The ICG underlines the importance of considering the perspectives of the civil society and communities of the region.

African-led mediation, supported by strong regional engagement, remains central to achieving lasting peace in the Great Lakes Region. The ICG reiterates its support for the ongoing peace efforts by the AU-appointed mediator, Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of the Togolese Republic, as well as the Panel of Facilitators, the AU Commission, and regional partners. We commend the progress achieved to date by the AU-led mediation and look forward to the next steps. The ICG supports the continued effort by all mediators to ensure cooperation and complementary between the AU, the Washington, and the Doha tracks. 

 The ICG calls on all parties to the conflict to build on this momentum and to engage constructively in dialogue. There can be no military solution to the conflict.