diplo.news

Rolf Nikel hat mehr als vierzig Jahre Erfahrung als Diplomat. Er war Botschafter in wichtigen Hauptstädten und außenpolitischer Berater unter drei Bundeskanzlern. Grund genug, ein Buch über Diplomatie zu schreiben, das ein Standardwerk für Diplomatische Akademien werden dürfte. Ewald König im Gespräch mit Rolf Nikel.

Indonesien ist das viertgrößte Land der Welt, besteht aus 17.000 Inseln und verfügt über 127 aktive Vulkane. Wie ein solches Land regiert werden kann und welche zentrale Bedeutung Jakarta als Sitz der ASEAN hat, erläutert Botschafter Abdul Kadir Jailani im Gespräch mit Ewald König in der Sendung „diplo.international“.

The global economic landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. How does diplomacy operate at the intersection of geopolitical crises, international competition, and bilateral trade relations? In this issue of Diplo International, Austrian top economic diplomat Michael Scherz (Austrian Trade Council in Berlin) takes stock of his four decades of service in foreign trade on the occasion of his upcoming retirement. Following postings in Bucharest, Johannesburg, and New York, as well as the challenging reconstruction of the trade office in Sarajevo after the Dayton Agreement, he headed Austria's economic diplomatic missions in Munich and Berlin for a total of 12 years.

Thailand's Ambassador Chittipat Tongprasroeth wants to showcase his country's cuisine as a tool of soft power in diplomacy. In "Chef Bo," he has found a strong partner: The Michelin-starred chef is considered an ambassador for authentic Thai cuisine – and also a champion of sustainability and waste reduction. Presenter Ewald König has invited the fascinating celebrity chef to his program "diplo.international":

The world's most modern and arguably most impressive Center for Islamic Civilization was inaugurated today in Tashkent after eight years of construction. The Ambassador of Uzbekistan, Dilshod Akhatov, analyzes the significance of this gigantic structure on the talk show "diplo.international"—especially at a time when the Islamic world is facing numerous conflicts.

Diplomacy is facing unprecedented challenges. How can Germany, how can the European Union, confidently and sovereignly navigate a world in which everything is changing? Volker Perthes has written a book on this topic ("The Multipolarization of the World – A Geopolitical Guide") and discussed it with diplomats and journalists. For the program "diplo.international," host Ewald König, publisher of diplo.news, invited Volker Perthes for a discussion. You can see what the long-time director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and former UN Under-Secretary-General has to say about the current situation on TV Berlin .

diplo.international and the Munich Security Conference: Following the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Munich Security Conference is on the horizon. It will take place in mid-February 2026. Its former chairman, top diplomat Christoph Heusgen, provides an overview of the world's crises, whose coordinates have become quite disorganized. The interview between moderator Ewald König and the former ambassador and one-time advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel was recorded at the korrespondenten.cafe.

An extraordinary, almost exotic diplomatic role is presented in “diplo.international”: the young Ethiopian architect, world traveler, and author Abduselam Ademnur recently became Iceland's honorary consul in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. He tells the host Ewald König, publisher of diplo.news, in his talk show diplo.international how this came about, what his job entails, and what surprising similarities Iceland and Ethiopia have.

Yemen is considered the country with the greatest humanitarian catastrophe – but other trouble spots and conflicts mean that the world is no longer paying attention. Germany is also stopping its support. That is why Yemen's Deputy Foreign Minister Mustapha Noman is in Berlin. He is explaining to German politicians what the consequences of this will be. In conversation with interviewer Ewald König, he describes the dramatic situation in his country.

Horst Teltschik, close advisor to Helmut Kohl and long-time head of the Munich Security Conference, spoke at “korrespondenten.cafe” about German reunification, international negotiations, and his experiences in foreign policy. Together with historian Prof. Michael Gehler, he presented the 1,000-page diary “Die 329 Tage zur deutschen Einigung” (The 329 Days to German Unification). An exciting review with personal insights – from the fall of the Berlin Wall to reunification.

Hardly any ambassador knows Germany as well as Nurlan Onzhanov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan. This has been the case throughout his entire career. In addition to political, economic, and cultural relations, he also wants to promote social relations. The ninth-largest country in the world is rich in oil, natural gas, uranium, gold, and many other natural resources, and has much more to offer, but Germany is too slow in many respects. “We are former nomads, so everything moves faster with us,” he says in an interview with Ewald König on the program “diplo.international” on TV Berlin

There are a few countries that are not considered acceptable in German politics, and whose ambassadors are not invited to receptions hosted by the Federal President. This includes the Iranian ambassador. Nevertheless, Ambassador Majid Nili appears on the talk show diplo.international (in the TV Berlin studio) and answers questions from host Ewald König.

“When is your boss coming?” Barbara Gessler also had to hear this question sometimes—as the first woman to head the European Commission's representation. She is her own boss, and indeed the head of the largest EU representation of all 27 member states. With three branches (Berlin, Bonn, Munich), Germany has more offices than any other country. In an interview with Ewald König on the TV Berlin program “diplo.international,” she talks about how she builds bridges between Brussels and Berlin and why she has a diplomatic license plate but no diplomatic passport.

Mexico is particularly challenged by its neighbor, US President Donald Trump. But Mexicans handle it calmly. Mexican Ambassador to Germany Francisco Jose Quiroga Fernandes explains his government's position. Quiroga himself, who was a manager of industrial companies for a long time before his appointment to diplomacy, also sees everything pragmatically, as he reveals to presenter Ewald König on the program “diplo.international” on TV Berlin.

An unknown but highly interesting facet of diplomacy is what is known as “sneaker diplomacy”: countries can use sporting relations to attract attention or even initiate diplomatic recognition—as the GDR did with African states. “Sneaker diplomacy” combines sports with history, politics, and diplomacy. An expert on this topic is historian and sports scientist Dr. Daniel Lange, who will be a guest on host Ewald König's talk show “diplo.international”

Military diplomacy is the focus of this episode of the talk show “diplo.international.” The guests are two high-ranking military officers in uniform: Brigadier Peter Grünwald from Austria and Commander Frank Reimers from the German Ministry of Defense. They describe to host Ewald König what tasks military and defense attachés have, how the host country looks after military diplomats, and what the Association of Foreign Military Attachés (VAM) is responsible for.

In der dritte Runde des diplo.cafe treffen sich Diplomaten verschiedenster Länder um sich auszutauschen und Kontakte zu knüpfen.

Seit in Serbien die Lithium-Vorkommen entdeckt wurden, ist das Land im Westbalkan gespalten: Hier die Hoffnung auf Wirtschaftswachstum und Wohlstand, da die Sorge und Proteste von Umweltschützern. Wie Serbien damit umgeht und was der Abbau von Lithium ab 2028 für die europäische Wirtschaft und die Unabhängigkeit von anderen Rohstofflieferanten bedeutet, erklärt die Botschafterin Serbiens, Snezana Jankovic, im Gespräch mit dem Moderator Ewald König in der Sendung "diplo.international"

Ewald König interviews the ambassador of Uzbekistan, Dilshod Akhatov

Ewald König interviews the Ambassador of Japan, Yanagi Hidenao

Ewald König interviews the ambassador of Bolivia, Dr. Wilfredo Ticona Cuba

Ewald König interviews Egypts Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa

Ewald König interviews the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, Maria PAPAKYRIAKOU

Ewald König interviews the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, Ahmed Alattar

Ewald König interviews the ambassador of Chile, Maria Magdalena Atria Barros

Ewald König interviews the ambassador of Kosovo, Faruk Ajeti

Ewald König interviews Imomudin SATTOROV, Ambassador of Tajikistan

Ewald König interviews the ambassador of Panama, Enrique Alberto Thayer Hausz

Ewald König interviews the ambassador of the Republic of Latvia, Alda Vanaga

Ewald König interviews Dr. Snezana Jankovic, Ambassador of Serbia

Ewald König im Gespräch mit Diego Fernando Morejon Pazmino

Ewald König interviews Dr. Péter Györkös, Ambassador of Hungary

Ewald König interviews the ambassador of Austria, Michael LINHART

Ewald König interviews Romania's ambassador Adriana Loreta STANESCU

Ewald König interviews ambassador of Mongolia, Birvaa MANDAKHBILEG

Ewald König im Gespräch mit Tschechiens Botschafter Tomas Kafka

Ewald König interviews the Ambassador of Croatia, Gordan BAKOTA

Ewald König interviews the Ambassador Azerbaijan, Nasimi AGHAYEV

Das Fürstentum Liechtenstein ist zwar das sechstkleinste Land der Welt, aber mit multilateralen Initiativen in der UNO sehr aktiv. Das Fürstentum, gleichsam ein Fast-EU-Mitgliedsland, ist weithin als Finanzplatz bekannt. Dass es aber auch das Land mit der höchsten Industrialisierungsdichte der Welt ist, erläutert Botschafterin Isabel Frommelt-Gottschald im Gespräch mit dem Gastgeber Ewald König in "diplo.international" (Donnerstag, 12.10.2023, 19:30, tv.berlin)