Diplomacy: New Ambassador post: Hanefeld in USA – Kahl to the Vatican

The previous German ambassador to Ethiopia, Jens Hanefeld (60), will be the new German ambassador in the USA. According to information from the German Press Agency, Hanefeld will replace Andreas Michaelis from government districts, who regularly retires. The personnel are therefore part of a tableau that Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul (CDU) prepared for the uniform transfer date of the external office in the summer and voted in the government and coalition. According to this information, Bruno Kahl (62), who has been President of the Federal Intelligence Service since 2016, becomes new German representative at the Holy Stuhl in Rome.

Hanefeld has already been stationed twice during his diplomatic career at the German Embassy in Washington: from 1997 to 2000 and from 2009 to 2014 as a envoy and deputy ambassador. From 2014 to 2024 he had a special leave of charge to Volkswagen AG, where he was head of international and European politics as well as trade policy. This position is likely to be a not inconsiderable qualification against the background of auto tariffs with the United States. The “Spiegel” had already reported on the Hanefeld personnel on Thursday.

Ambassador tableau on Wednesday in the cabinet

The ambassador tableau prepared by WadePhul is to be decided in the cabinet this Wednesday. In the future, German interests would continue to be represented by very experienced diplomats on central key posts, it was said from government circles.

According to DPA information, there is also a returnee when heading Germany’s permanent representation at the European Union (EU) in Brussels: Thomas Ossowski is currently working as an EU ambassador in Turkey and previously worked as a high-ranking German diplomat in Brussels.

Security policy expert becomes NATO ambassador

Detlef Wächter, previously ambassador in Oslo, becomes the new NATO ambassador. It has broad security policy expertise. From 2005 to 2007 he worked on the constant representation at NATO in Brussels, and from 2007 to 2010 he was deputy head of the department for security policy with responsibility for the USA, Canada, Western Europe and Turkey. After stations in Washington and as head of the North America department in the Federal Foreign Office, he was head of the security policy department in the Chancellery from 2015 to 2017 and was responsible for the NATO countries. From 2019 to 2022 he worked in the Ministry of Defense in Berlin.

Previous ambassador at UN changes to Geneva

Ricklef Beutin, previously head of the AA central department, becomes new constant representative of Germany at the United Nations (UN) in New York. There he should promote the German candidacy for the non -managing seat in the 2027/28 security council. Antje Leenderse, previously in New York, takes over the constant representation at the UN in Geneva. The previous AA State Secretary Susanne Baumann and Thomas Bagger take over European key posts: Baumann replaces Miguel Berger in London, who moves to Warsaw as an ambassador. Excavator becomes the new ambassador in Rome.

Multi -stage procedure for the occupation of ambassador posts

Ambassador and ambassadors are occupied in a multi-stage procedure. After completing the planning process, which can last several months, the government of the host country is requested by a so -called agrément. If this has been granted, the Federal President issues a letter of certification that must be presented to the head of state of the host country when taking office.

From the Federal Foreign Office, it was said that it was “good diplomatic and protocol practice to first inform the host country about a planned sending of ambassadors and to obtain the consent of the relevant guest government”. In order not to take the decision of the host country, personal details are therefore only confirmed after the guest government approved.