Germany updates: German Foreign Minister visits Saudi Arabia

• Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul was visiting the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh for a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan
• Their talks were dominated by the conflict between Israel and Iran, which has dramatically escalated in the past two days
• Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza was also discussed
• Wadephul, who began his tour of the region in Egypt on Thursday, had originally planned to then travel to Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Jordan, but those plans have been cancelled 
• Instead, the German foreign minister will next head to Qatar, seen as a mediator between between Israel and Hamas 
• Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has praised the Schengen border-free zone in the EU, which was marking its 40th anniversary Saturday

Below is a roundup of the latest developments from and about Germany on Saturday, June 14 2025:
 

06/14/2025June 14, 2025

Germany's Merz praises border-free Europe

The German Police Union says the border checks and asylum rejections are not sustainableImage: Angelika Warmuth/REUTERS

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday praised the Schengen Agreement, which led to internal borders among most European Union member states being removed to allow free movement within the bloc.

Saturday marks 40 years since the agreement was signed.

"The Schengen Agreement is unique, the foundation of our free Europe. It should stay that way: We want a strong European internal market without restrictions," Merz said on X.

"This requires secure external borders, implementation of the new migration rules, and effective cooperation," he added.

The chancellor, who took office last month, has sought to clamp down on irregular migration to Germany amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment in his country and a far-right movement that has been gaining strength in recent years.

Germany has reinstated police controls on roads and railways along many of its borders.

At a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement in Schengen, Luxembourg, the premier of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Alexander Schweitzer, said the federal government's recently imposed border checks must not become permanent.

"They are not agreed as a permanent measure, they are not designed to be permanent," Alexander Schweitzer said of the border checks. 

The Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985 by Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Today, some 29 countries with around 420 million inhabitants belong to the border and customs-free zone. 

"Schengen is a historic achievement of today's Europe," Schweitzer said. "We must not throw Europe and what we have achieved in Europe out like a baby with the bath water," he added, while emphasizing that he was not opposed to "local, temporary, well-justified border controls." 

06/14/2025June 14, 2025

Wadephul warns Middle East is 'highly volatile'

Germany has insisted that Iran must not have nuclear weapons while highlighting Israel's right to self-defenseImage: Hannes P Albert/dpa/picture alliance

Following Johann Wadephul's meeting with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan, the German Foreign Minister said he had discussed the "highly volatile" situation in the Middle East.

Wadephul said in a post on X that he was concerned by the attacks "in both directions" by Iran and Israel, warning the "danger of escalation is real."

"Iran's nuclear program threatens not only Israel, but also Saudi Arabia and the stability of the entire region," the German minister said.

He said Germany and the "region's states" shared the desire to "avoid nuclear armament."

Wadephul also mentioned the "catastrophic" humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the need for a "common perspective" for the post-war period.

While Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, have strongly criticized Israel's attacks against Iran as well as its military offensive in Gaza, Germany has been far more cautious.

After his meetings in Saudi Arabia, Wadephul said the German government was working with its "Israeli partners" towards peace and de-escalation. 

But he also emphasized Germany's long-standing commitment to the security and existence of the State of Israel.

06/14/2025June 14, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Karl Sexton | Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

Guten tag from sunny Bonn. This is where you'll find DW's latest news from across Germany and beyond, as Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul pushes ahead with his hastily rearranged tour of the Middle East.

Wadephul has met with his counterpart from Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan. The German diplomat said the pair had discussed the "highly volatile" situation in the Middle East.

Back in Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has promised to clamp down on immigration at home, has praised the European Union's border-free Schengen area on its 40th anniversary.

Stay tuned for all the latest headlines, analyses, multimedia content, and DW's on-the-ground reporting on all things Germany.