Foreign Minister Wadephul Headed to Rome: Pursuing Collaboration with Italy, Vatican Engagements, and Driving European Security Enhancement

In a significant display of unity, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio recently convened in Rome for the sixth meeting of the Weimar Triangle Plus format. This format, which also includes France, Poland, the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), Spain, the United Kingdom, EU Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister, serves as a crucial framework for clear coordination, joint action, and a strong Europe in an unstable world.

Economic cooperation is central to both Germany and Italy, with close intertwining through supply chains, investments, and technological cooperation. The two nations stand for a multilateral, rules-based world order and emphasize Europe's security policy role in the transatlantic framework. Discussions focused on enhancing strategic independence and capability through interconnected defense structures, joint industrial capacities, and political unity.

The focus of these consultations is long-term support for Ukraine in the face of the ongoing Russian war of aggression. The foreign ministers reaffirmed their joint goal: a sovereign, democratic, and resilient Ukraine as part of a stable Euro-Atlantic security area. The meeting comes just a few weeks after the election of Pope Leo XIV, and Foreign Minister Baerbock also visited the traditional German cemetery "Campo Santo Teutonico" in Vatican City, symbolizing centuries-old spiritual and cultural connections between Germany and the Holy See.

The conversation between Baerbock and Di Maio also touched upon geopolitical crises and challenges, including the humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, worldwide refugee movements, and the role of religion in international crisis contexts. For the first time, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also participated in the Weimar Triangle Plus meetings, underscoring the importance of these discussions in shaping Europe's future.

Looking ahead, preparations are underway for joint government consultations next year to renew the joint action plan signed in 2023 and expand cooperation in key future areas such as energy, digitalization, research, and civil society cohesion. Foreign Minister Baerbock used her inaugural visit to Rome to further deepen relations with Italy, and the exchange between German and Italian officials focuses on pressing global issues that require joint action and unity.

As Germany and Italy aim to strengthen their cooperation in hydrogen technology in the future, the Weimar Triangle Plus format continues to provide a vital platform for Europe to navigate the complexities of the modern world and uphold its values in the face of adversity.