Singapore: Germany has emphatically restated that its geopolitical orientation remains much closer to the United States than to China, even as both transatlantic and global relations face mounting tensions and uncertainties.
Speaking on Monday at a lecture hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul made clear that Berlin does not consider itself “equidistant” between Washington and Beijing. Instead, he described the United States as Germany’s most indispensable partner, particularly in matters of collective security and defense.
Wadephul acknowledged that recent frictions between the U.S. and Europe including pointed criticism from the Trump administration over NATO defense spending and European reliance on American security guarantees have strained parts of the transatlantic relationship. Nonetheless, he emphasized that these disagreements have not altered the fundamental strategic alignment with Washington.
“Running with open arms to President Xi and saying all our problems vanished in this very moment and we are only heading to become your big partner, this would be the wrong answer,” Wadephul said, underscoring Berlin’s resistance to swiftly pivoting toward a closer partnership with China. His remarks directly referenced Chinese President Xi Jinping and reflected wariness about over-reliance on Beijing as a strategic alternative.
The German foreign minister also noted that some Western nations, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, have pursued deeper trade relations with China, even in the face of U.S. disapproval. However, Wadephul suggested that such moves should not wholesale replace the enduring security and diplomatic bond that ties Europe and Germany in particular to the United States.
Amid talk of geopolitical realignments, Wadephul highlighted Europe’s capacity to assert itself when necessary. He pointed to Europe’s coordinated response to controversial U.S. proposals regarding Greenland as evidence that a united European stance can effectively defend its interests, provided clear boundaries are set.
Economically, the foreign minister stressed the importance of the European Union’s network of free trade agreements as a foundation for promoting rules-based global commerce at a time of rising protectionism and international fragmentation. He said the EU is focused on swiftly concluding trade accord negotiations in the Asia-Pacific region with countries including Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia.
Wadephul’s remarks come as Germany Europe’s largest economy continues to balance complex relationships with both superpowers. While economic ties with China remain significant, Berlin’s political and strategic outlook, at least in public pronouncements, underscores a deliberate anchoring to the United States as its principal partner.