Wadephul warns of foreign policy consequences of AfD participation in government

Criticism of the AfD's proximity to Russia

The foreign minister was particularly pointed with regard to Russia. He stated that the AfD is currying favor with "einem russischen Diktator" and is thus trampling "auf den Interessen eines Landes herum, das sie vorgibt, vertreten zu wollen". With a direct reference to the Kremlin chief, Wadephul formulated: "Wer für (Kremlchef Wladimir) Putin ist, ist nicht für Deutschland."

Wadephul also criticized the AfD's political style. The party prevents "mit Parolen der vermeintlich einfachen Lösungen wirksames Handeln" and poisons the political debate with simplifying slogans. In doing so, it exploits uncertainties among the population instead of offering solutions.

Warning of foreign policy weakening

With regard to Germany's international standing, the minister warned of concrete consequences of the party's participation in government. "Ein Deutschland, in dem die AfD Macht erhält, ist in dieser Welt schwächer" – with this statement he directly linked the domestic political debate to foreign policy capacity to act.

The Stresemann Society as host

The Stresemann Society, at which the speech took place, was founded in 1955 and is dedicated to foreign and European policy issues. It commemorates the former Reich Chancellor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Gustav Stresemann and, according to its own statements, promotes societal dialogue on foreign and European policy.

The foreign minister's speech comes at a politically tense phase: state elections are scheduled for September in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Berlin, and the AfD is leading in polls in two of these states. Wadephul is a member of the Bundestag and belongs to the CDU.

The news about the speech was broadcast on 12.06.2026 on the Deutschlandfunk program. With his policy speech, the foreign minister linked domestic political warnings against a strengthening of the AfD with clear foreign policy positions on Germany's European and transatlantic orientation.