Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul aims to rebuild relations with South America, competing with global powers like China.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is on a tightly scheduled diplomatic tour across South America, starting with the Mercosur Summit in Paraguay. The visit comes after tensions caused by earlier remarks from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about South American leaders. Wadephul’s mission is clear: to strengthen Germany’s position in the region amidst growing competition from global powers like China and the United States.

At the Mercosur Summit, Wadephul congratulated Paraguay on its recent World Cup victory over Germany, using the moment to foster goodwill. He emphasized the importance of the recently finalized EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, which took 25 years to negotiate. Wadephul highlighted the deal’s potential to diversify trade, boost investments, and create resilient supply chains. He also committed to Germany being one of the first EU nations to ratify the agreement, signaling a renewed focus on Latin America as a key partner for raw materials and markets.

The trip also includes a visit to Argentina, where Wadephul plans to expand cooperation on critical minerals and resources. This comes after German Chancellor Merz’s controversial criticism of Argentina’s President Javier Milei during his election campaign. Despite the criticism, Milei has since made significant strides in reducing inflation and poverty, making Argentina a crucial partner for Germany’s resource strategy.