Diplomatic personnel: Berlin's new ambassadors

The current German ambassador to Ethiopia, Jens Hanefeld , will be the new German ambassador to the USA. According to information from government sources reported to the German Press Agency, Hanefeld will replace Andreas Michaelis in Washington, who is taking regular retirement. The appointment is therefore part of a tableau that Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) prepared for the uniform transfer date of the Federal Foreign Office in the summer and agreed upon by the government and coalition. Hanefeld has already been stationed at the German embassy in Washington twice during his diplomatic career: from 1997 to 2000 and from 2009 to 2014 as envoy and deputy ambassador. From 2014 to 2024 he was on special leave from Volkswagen AG, where he was head of international and European policy and trade policy. This position is likely to be a significant qualification in light of the dispute over car tariffs with the USA. According to this information, Bruno Kahl , who has served as President of the Federal Intelligence Service since 2016, will become the new German representative to the Holy See in Rome. Detlef Wächter , previously Ambassador to Oslo, will be the new NATO Ambassador. The ambassadorial lineup prepared by Wadephul is to be approved by the Cabinet this Wednesday. Ricklef Beutin , currently Head of the Central Directorate at the Federal Foreign Office, will become Germany's new Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York.