Stegner defends Wadephul against Union criticism

Berlin – SPD foreign policy expert Ralf Stegner has defended German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) against opposition from within his own party. "It was wise of the Foreign Minister to call the US airstrikes on Iran, which violate international law, 'regrettable.' They are regrettable," Stegner told the "Tagesspiegel" (Tuesday edition). "The fact that his own party is stabbing Wadephul in the back may be due to the fact that the CDU hasn't provided a foreign minister for almost 60 years." Meanwhile, "the Union has forgotten realism in foreign policy." "Johann Wadephul, on the other hand, is an experienced foreign policy expert," Stegner said. "It is to be hoped that Wadephul's moderate policy remains the line of the federal government, and that the hawks in the Union do not set the tone." In his assessment of the US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, Wadephul's assessment had previously met with opposition from Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and his own party leadership. Wadephul described the attacks on Sunday evening as "regrettable." Linnemann said the German government and he himself supported the US actions. Merz said he saw "no reason to criticize what America did last weekend." International lawyers see the attack as a violation of international law. Stegner told the "Tagesspiegel" newspaper that it was "very remarkable that the CDU contradicts its own foreign minister." Wadephul was carrying out his new office "wisely and sensibly." "He speaks refreshingly clearly with regard to Iran while remaining diplomatic. That is precisely the task of a foreign minister," Stegner said.