Johann Wadephul is a German politician from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who has served as Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs (foreign minister) since May 6, 2025. As foreign minister, he is the country’s top diplomat, responsible for shaping and representing Germany’s foreign policy, managing relations with other countries, and overseeing the Federal Foreign Office and Germany’s embassies abroad.
Thomas “Tommy” Pigott is the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, a senior communications official who helps brief the press and explain U.S. foreign policy. When a statement is described as “attributable to” him, it means the information is officially on the record from the State Department and can be quoted in his name and title, even though he is speaking on behalf of the department and the Secretary of State rather than giving a personal opinion.
In U.S.-German cooperation, “securing supply chains” typically involves: (1) diversifying and strengthening sources of critical materials (like critical minerals for batteries and electric vehicles) so neither side is overly dependent on one supplier or country; (2) coordinating industrial and trade policies in areas such as clean energy technologies and digital/ICT infrastructure to make production more resilient; and (3) working together in forums like the Minerals Security Partnership and EU–U.S. critical minerals talks to build transparent, sustainable, and reliable supply networks for both economies.
Measures to prevent Venezuela from being an “operating hub” for adversaries could include: (1) sanctions and law-enforcement actions targeting illicit trade, arms transfers, money laundering, and foreign military or intelligence activities that use Venezuela as a base; (2) greater maritime and air surveillance and interdiction in the Caribbean and around Venezuelan ports to block shipment of weapons, dual‑use technologies, or sanctioned goods; and (3) diplomatic pressure and incentives—through regional organizations and partner countries—to push any post‑crisis Venezuelan government to expel foreign military or proxy forces and comply with international non‑proliferation and counterterrorism norms. These are consistent with how the U.S. and partners have responded to growing Russian, Iranian, and Chinese activity in Venezuela’s energy, military, and logistics sectors.
Current efforts to advance peace between Russia and Ukraine focus on: (1) diplomatic initiatives and back‑channel talks exploring conditions for a cease-fire and future security arrangements, often with involvement from countries such as Turkey, Gulf states, and others; (2) international conferences and “peace plans” that seek broad backing for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and a framework for negotiations, while pressing Russia to end its aggression; and (3) continued military and financial support for Ukraine by the U.S., Germany, and other allies, aimed at improving Ukraine’s position in any eventual talks. Germany’s role includes being one of Ukraine’s largest military and financial supporters, hosting reconstruction conferences, and previously co‑leading formats like the Normandy process that brought together Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia to seek diplomatic solutions.
To try to deny Iran the ability to develop or obtain a nuclear weapon, the U.S. and Germany use a mix of tools: (1) diplomatic frameworks and negotiations, such as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which impose verifiable limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief; (2) economic and financial sanctions targeting Iran’s nuclear, military, and missile sectors and entities that support them, to raise the cost of any weapons program; and (3) coordination in international bodies like the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to mandate inspections, monitor Iran’s activities, and re‑impose or tighten sanctions if Iran violates its commitments. Germany works closely with the U.S., France, and the U.K. as part of the European “E3” group on these policies.
In practice, “deepening the U.S.-German partnership” usually means expanding cooperation across multiple areas: (1) security and defense (NATO deployments, support for Ukraine, joint military planning); (2) economic and technology ties (trade, investment, digital and clean‑energy supply chains, critical and emerging technologies); (3) climate, energy, and global development projects in third countries; and (4) people‑to‑people links, such as student exchanges, scientific collaboration, and cultural programs. These steps are often formalized through bilateral dialogues, joint initiatives, and regular high‑level meetings between the two governments.