View source for Frank-Walter Steinmeier

{{short description|President of Germany since 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier auf den Stufen der Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn.jpg
| caption             = Steinmeier in 2024
| office              = [[President of Germany]]
| chancellor          = [[Angela Merkel]]<br />[[Olaf Scholz]]<br />[[Friedrich Merz]]
| term_start          = 19 March 2017
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Joachim Gauck]]
| successor           = 
| office1             = [[Vice Chancellor of Germany]]
| chancellor1         = Angela Merkel
| term_start1         = 21 November 2007
| term_end1           = 27 October 2009
| predecessor1        = [[Franz Müntefering]]
| successor1          = [[Guido Westerwelle]]
| office2             = [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| chancellor2         = Angela Merkel
| term_start2         = 17 December 2013
| term_end2           = 27 January 2017
| predecessor2        = Guido Westerwelle
| successor2          = [[Sigmar Gabriel]]
| chancellor3         = Angela Merkel
| term_start3         = 22 November 2005
| term_end3           = 27 October 2009
| predecessor3        = [[Joschka Fischer]]
| successor3          = Guido Westerwelle
| office4             = [[Leader of the Opposition (Germany)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| chancellor4         = Angela Merkel
| term_start4         = 28 October 2009
| term_end4           = 16 December 2013{{efn|Frank-Walter Steinmeier donated one of his kidneys to his end-stage kidney disease-stricken wife in August 2010. From 23 August to 26 October 2010, where he recovered from the procedure, senior SPD Bundestag member Joachim Poß served as interim Bundestag leader in his absence.}}
| predecessor4        = Guido Westerwelle
| successor4          = [[Gregor Gysi]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Party political offices
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office5             = Leader of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]<br />in the [[Bundestag]]
| 1blankname5         = {{nowrap|[[Whip (politics)|Chief Whip]]}}
| 1namedata5          = [[Thomas Oppermann]]
| term_start5         = 29 September 2009
| term_end5           = 16 December 2013{{efn|Frank-Walter Steinmeier donated one of his kidneys to his end-stage kidney disease-stricken wife in August 2010. From 23 August to 26 October 2010, where he recovered from the procedure, senior SPD Bundestag member Joachim Poß served as interim Bundestag leader in his absence.}}
| predecessor5        = [[Peter Struck (politician)|Peter Struck]]
| successor5          = [[Thomas Oppermann]]
| office6             = [[Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany|Leader of the Social Democratic Party]]
| deputy6             = {{ubl|[[Andrea Nahles]]|[[Peer Steinbrück]]|Himself}}
| term_label6         = Acting
| term_start6         = 7 September 2008
| term_end6           = 18 October 2008
| predecessor6        = [[Kurt Beck]]
| successor6          = [[Franz Müntefering]]
| office7             = Deputy Leader of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]]
| leader7             = {{ubl|[[Kurt Beck]]|Himself {{small|(acting)}}|[[Franz Müntefering]]}}
| term_start7         = 26 October 2007
| term_end7           = 13 November 2009
| predecessor7        = [[Bärbel Dieckmann]]
| successor7          = [[Olaf Scholz]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Political civil servant
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office8             = [[Heads of the German Chancellery|Head of the Chancellery]]
| chancellor8         = [[Gerhard Schröder]]
| term_start8         = 31 July 1999
| term_end8           = 22 November 2005
| predecessor8        = [[Bodo Hombach]]
| successor8          = [[Thomas de Maizière]]
| office9             = [[German Chancellery|State Secretary at the Chancellery]]<br />Commissioner for the Federal Intelligence Services
| chancellor9         = Gerhard Schröder
| term_start9         = 27 October 1998
| term_end9           = 22 November 2005
| predecessor9        = [[Bernd Schmidbauer]] {{small|(as [[Minister of State#Minor government ranks|Minister of State]])}}
| successor9          = Thomas de Maizière
| office10            = [[Cabinet Schröder II (Lower Saxony)|Head of the<br />State Chancellery of Lower Saxony]]
| 1blankname10        = {{nowrap|[[Minister-President of Lower Saxony|Minister-President]]}}
| 1namedata10         = Gerhard Schröder
| term_start10        = 30 October 1996
| term_end10          = 27 October 1998
| predecessor10       = Willi Waike
| successor10         = Peter-Jürgen Steiner
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Parliamentary constituencies
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office11            = [[Member of the German Bundestag|Member]] of the [[Bundestag]] <br /> for [[Brandenburg an der Havel – Potsdam-Mittelmark I – Havelland III – Teltow-Fläming I]]
| term_start11        = [[2009 German federal election|27 October 2009]]
| term_end11          = 19 March 2017
| predecessor11       = Margrit Spielmann
| successor11         = Angelika Krüger-Leißner
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1956|1|5|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Detmold]], North Rhine-Westphalia, [[West Germany]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Elke Büdenbender]]<br />|1995}}
| children            = 1
| party               = [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic]]
| alma_mater          = [[University of Giessen]]
| signature           = Signature Frank-Walter Steinmeier.svg
| allegiance          = <!-- Germany; obvious -->
| branch              = {{lang|de|[[Bundeswehr]]}}
| serviceyears        = 1974–1976
| unit                = [[German Air Force]]
}}
'''Frank-Walter Steinmeier''' ({{IPA|de|ˈfʁaŋkˌvaltɐ ˈʃtaɪnˌmaɪ.ɐ|lang|De-Frank-Walter Steinmeier.ogg}}; born 5 January 1956)<ref>{{Cite web |title=www.bundespraesident.de: Der Bundespräsident / Curriculum Vitae / Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier |url=http://www.bundespraesident.de/EN/Federal-President/Curriculum-Vitae/Curriculum-Vitae_Steinmeier.html |access-date=11 December 2019 |website=www.bundespraesident.de}}</ref> is a German politician who has served as [[President of Germany]] since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wahl des Bundespräsidenten |url=http://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/DE/Joachim-Gauck/2017/02/170212-Wahl-zum-Bundespraesidenten.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250223182100/https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/DE/Joachim-Gauck/2017/02/170212-Wahl-zum-Bundespraesidenten.html |archive-date=2025-02-23 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Der Bundespräsident |language=de}}</ref> He was previously [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany)|federal minister for foreign affairs]] from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2017, as well as [[Vice Chancellor of Germany|vice chancellor of Germany]] from 2007 to 2009. Steinmeier was chairman-in-office of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE) in 2016.

Steinmeier is a member of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] (SPD), holds a doctorate in law and was formerly a career civil servant. He was a close aide of [[Gerhard Schröder]] when Schröder was [[Minister-President of Lower Saxony|minister-president of Lower Saxony]] during most of the 1990s, and served as Schröder's chief of staff from 1996. When Schröder became [[Chancellor of Germany]] in 1998, Steinmeier was appointed Under-Secretary of State in the [[German Chancellery]] with responsibility for the [[intelligence service]]s. From 1999 to 2005 he served as [[German Chancellery Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff of the Chancellery]].

Following the [[2005 German federal election|2005 federal election]], Steinmeier became [[Foreign Minister of Germany|foreign minister]] in the first [[Grand coalition (Germany)|grand coalition]] government of [[Angela Merkel]], and from 2007 he additionally held the office of vice chancellor. In 2008, he briefly served as acting chairman of his party. He was the SPD's candidate for chancellor in the [[2009 German federal election|2009 federal election]], but his party lost the election and he left the federal cabinet to become leader of the opposition. Following the [[2013 German federal election|2013 federal election]], he again became Minister for Foreign Affairs in Merkel's second grand coalition. In November 2016 he was announced as the candidate for [[President of Germany]] of the governing coalition, consisting of his own party and the [[CDU/CSU]], and thus became the presumptive electee, as the coalition held a large majority in the [[Federal Convention (Germany)|Federal Convention]]. He left the cabinet on 27 January 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Germany's new top diplomat – DW – 01/27/2017 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/gabriel-takes-reins-at-german-foreign-ministry/a-37080162 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> He was [[2017 German presidential election|elected]] president by the Federal Convention on 12 February 2017 with 74% of the vote. On 13 February 2022, he was [[2022 German presidential election|re-elected]] by the Federal Convention for a second and final term with 78% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |title=Steinmeier reelected as German president |date=2022-02-13 |work=Deutsche Welle |url=https://www.dw.com/en/frank-walter-steinmeier-elected-to-second-term-as-german-president/a-60760871 |access-date=2024-03-08 }}</ref>

Steinmeier is known as a reform-minded moderate within the SPD.<ref name="Frank-Walter Steinmeier">[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5314cbee-7e08-11dd-bdbd-000077b07658.html Frank-Walter Steinmeier]''Financial Times'', 9 September 2008. {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20150507131400/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5314cbee-7e08-11dd-bdbd-000077b07658.html |date=7 May 2015 }}</ref> As chief of staff, he was a principal architect of [[Agenda 2010]], the Schröder government's reforms of the welfare state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steinmeier to run for German leader |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2008/10/18/steinmeier-to-run-for-german-leader/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> His lenient policies toward countries such as Russia and China have earned him criticism both in Germany and internationally, and he has been criticized for prioritizing German business interests over human rights.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2008-05-20 |title=Opinion {{!}} Steinmeier's bad example |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20/opinion/20iht-edgermany.4.13058304.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="t-online.de-2016"/>

==Personal life==

===Early life and education===
Steinmeier was born in 1956 in [[Detmold]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dempsey |first=Judy |date=2005-10-17 |title=A promotion to cabinet for Schröder's top aide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/17/world/europe/a-promotion-to-cabinet-for-schrders-top-aide.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Although his full name is Frank-Walter, his friends call him Frank.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Alex Grimm |date=10 February 2009 |title=To be perfectly Frank... minister shortens name |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oukoe-uk-germany-spd-steinmeier-idUKTRE51E19520090217 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305075822/http://uk.reuters.com/article/oukoe-uk-germany-spd-steinmeier-idUKTRE51E19520090217 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 March 2016 |website=Reuters}}</ref> His father, a carpenter, was affiliated with the [[Church of Lippe]] (one of Germany's few [[Calvinist]] [[Landeskirche|regional church bodies]], and a [[Landeskirche|member church]] of the [[Protestant Church of Germany]]). His mother, born in [[Breslau]] (now Wrocław, [[Poland]]), came as a refugee from a [[Lutheran]] part of [[Silesia]] during the [[flight and expulsion of Germans after World War II]].<ref name="domradio.de">{{Cite web |title=Das Ehepaar Steinmeier über das ökumenische Zusammenleben |url=https://www.domradio.de/nachrichten/2010-05-13/das-ehepaar-steinmeier-ueber-das-oekumenische-zusammenleben |website=Dom Radio|date=13 May 2010 }}</ref>

Following his ''[[Abitur]]'', Steinmeier did his military service from 1974 to 1976, then studied law and political science at the [[University of Giessen|Justus Liebig University Giessen]], where [[Brigitte Zypries]] was a fellow student.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feldenkirchen |first=Markus |date=2009-09-24 |title=From Pen-Pusher to Chancellor Candidate: Frank-Walter Steinmeier's Reluctant Path into the Spotlight |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/from-pen-pusher-to-chancellor-candidate-frank-walter-steinmeier-s-reluctant-path-into-the-spotlight-a-650973.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=Der Spiegel |language=en |issn=2195-1349}}</ref> In 1982 he passed his first and in 1986 his second state examination in law. Steinmeier worked as a scientific assistant to the professor of public law and political science at Giessen University until he obtained his doctorate of law in 1991. His dissertation explored the state's role in preventing homelessness.<ref name="Melissa Eddy 2013">{{cite news |title=German Politician Faces Plagiarism Accusations |first=Melissa |last=Eddy |date=2013-09-30 |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/world/europe/german-politician-faces-plagiarism-accusations.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721154010/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/world/europe/german-politician-faces-plagiarism-accusations.html |archive-date=2023-07-21 |access-date=2024-03-08 |quote=A German university is looking into allegations that Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a leading Social Democrat and a former foreign minister, plagiarized parts of his doctoral dissertation. [...] He has dismissed the charges and said Monday that he had requested that the University of Giessen check his dissertation for unacknowledged citations. }}</ref>

===Family life===
Steinmeier is married and has one daughter. On 24 August 2010, he donated a kidney to his wife [[Elke Büdenbender]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 August 2010 |title=Opposition Leader Steinmeier to Donate Kidney to His Wife |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/time-out-from-politics-opposition-leader-steinmeier-to-donate-kidney-to-his-wife-a-713314.html |access-date=13 February 2017 |website=SPIEGEL ONLINE, Germany}}</ref>

In 2015, Steinmeier served as [[best man]] at the wedding of [[Rüdiger Grube]] and Cornelia Poletto in Hamburg.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delhaes |first=Daniel |date=1 July 2015 |title=Steinmeier wird Trauzeuge: Die Trauringe, bitte! |trans-title=Steinmeier becomes Best Man: The Wedding Rings, please! |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/steinmeier-wird-trauzeuge-die-trauringe-bitte/11994720.html |website=Handelsblatt.com |language=de}}</ref>

===Interests===
Steinmeier enjoys [[jazz]], and is an avid [[association football|football]] fan.<ref name="Noah Barkin" />

===Religion===
Steinmeier is a [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]] [[Protestant]] and an active member of the Reformed Bethlehem congregation in [[Berlin-Neukölln]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steinmeier: Mein Glaube darf nicht selbst zum Gegenstand der Politik werden. |url=https://www.reformiert-info.de/14007-0-8-14.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.reformiert-info.de}}</ref> He was baptized into his father's church (the [[Church of Lippe]]) as a youth.

===Early career===
Steinmeier became an adviser in 1991 for Law of Communication media and media guidelines in the State Chancellery of [[Lower Saxony]] in [[Hanover]]. In 1993, he became director of the Personal Office for the prime minister of Lower Saxony, [[Gerhard Schröder]]. In 1996, he became the Secretary of State and head of the State Chancellery of Lower Saxony.

==Political career at federal level==
===Schröder Federal Chancellery, 1998–2005===
In November 1998 Steinmeier was appointed as Secretary of State, a junior Chancellery bureaucrat, and Commissioner for the Federal Intelligence Services at the office of the chancellor following [[1998 German federal election|Schröder's election victory]]. He replaced [[Bodo Hombach]] as the head of the [[German Chancellery|office of the chancellor]] in 1999, after the latter entered European Union politics.<ref name="Bernstein-2005">{{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Richard |date=23 November 2005 |title=Merkel Takes Office in Germany and Announces Coalition Cabinet |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/23/international/europe/23germany.html |access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> He retained his Secretary of State rank and therefore was the only Head of the Chancellery to not be appointed Minister for Special Affairs, i. e. not to have cabinet rank, from 1984 to today. During this period Steinmeier was also one of the advisors to Schröder.<ref name="Bernstein-2005"/> He was crucial in securing a red-green majority in parliament for Schröder's contentious "[[Agenda 2010]]" of economic reforms.<ref name="Frank-Walter Steinmeier" /> Because of his effective management beyond the spotlight of politics, he was nicknamed {{lang|de|Die Graue Effizienz}} ({{literal translation |the grey efficiency}}){{snd}}a pun on {{lang|de|Graue Eminenz}}, the German for [[éminence grise|grey eminence]].

As Commissioner for the Federal Intelligence Services (a title often held by the Head of the Chancellery) Steinmeier was responsible for co-ordinating Germany's intelligence services.<ref name="economist.com">{{Cite news |title=Schrödermeier |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2006/01/19/schrodermeier |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref> In 2003, he supported Schröder in his controversial decision to forge a coalition with Russia and France against the U.S.-led [[Iraq War|war against Iraq]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dempsey |first=Judy |date=2007-05-17 |title=Letter From Europe: In German town, a foreign minister paves way for future |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/17/world/europe/17iht-letter.1.5753291.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Meanwhile, he approved the decision to install a German intelligence officer in the Qatar-based office of General [[Tommy Franks]], the American commander of the U.S. invasion in Iraq, who passed on to the United States information being gathered in Baghdad by two German intelligence officers operating there.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Richard |last2=Gordon |first2=Michael R. |date=2006-03-02 |title=BERLIN FILE SAYS GERMANY'S SPIES AIDED U.S. IN IRAQ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/02/world/europe/berlin-file-says-germanys-spies-aided-us-in-iraq.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2004, Steinmeier participated in diplomatic negotiations settling on compensation payments with Libya for victims of the [[1986 Berlin discotheque bombing|1986 terrorist bombing of the LaBelle disco]] in Berlin.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hawley |first=Charles |date=2005-10-20 |title=Letter from Berlin: Taming the Lions with Angela Merkel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/letter-from-berlin-taming-the-lions-with-angela-merkel-a-380786.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=Der Spiegel |language=en |issn=2195-1349}}</ref>

A major controversy during Steinmeier's term as chief of staff was the imprisonment of a German-born Turk, [[Murat Kurnaz]], in [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantánamo Bay]] from 2002 until August 2006. Steinmeier denied during a parliamentary inquiry in March 2007 that he had blocked Kurnaz's release. Instead, he claimed that Berlin had feared Kurnaz was a threat and should go to Turkey, not Germany, if released. Only after Merkel's election was Kurnaz released and brought back to Germany.<ref>[[Judy Dempsey]] (17 May 2007), [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/17/world/europe/17iht-letter.1.5753291.html Letter From Europe: In German town, a foreign minister paves way for future] ''The New York Times''.</ref>

[[File:Frank-Walter Steinmeier 20090902-DSCF9761.jpg|thumb|upright|Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2009)]]

===First term as Foreign Minister, 2005–2009===
On 22 November 2005, after the [[2005 German federal election|2005 federal elections]], Steinmeier became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the [[Merkel Cabinet I|Grand coalition cabinet]] led by [[Angela Merkel]].<ref name="Bernstein-2005"/> He was the first SPD Foreign Minister since [[Willy Brandt]] (1966–1969).

Upon taking office, Steinmeier led the preparations for Germany taking over the rotating [[presidency of the Council of the European Union]] in the first half of 2007.

Following [[Franz Müntefering]]'s departure from the cabinet on 21 November 2007, Steinmeier also filled the position of [[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|Vice-Chancellor]].<ref>Andreas Cremer and Brian Parkin, [https://archive.today/20120525104505/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=avKnSh84M5yQ&refer=europe "Muentefering, Vice-Chancellor Under Merkel, Quits"], Bloomberg, 13 November 2007.</ref>

During his time in office, Steinmeier was widely regarded as having good working relations with Angela Merkel but often taking a different stance on foreign affairs.<ref name="Frank-Walter Steinmeier" /> By and large, he allowed Merkel to set the pace in foreign policy,<ref name="economist.com" /> working harmoniously with her on a range of foreign policy issues, from confronting [[Iran]] over its nuclear program to negotiating binding goals to [[climate change mitigation|combat climate change]].<ref name="Noah Barkin">{{Cite web |date=2016-03-06 |title=FACTBOX - German SPD candidate Frank-Walter Steinmeier {{!}} Reuters |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306101926/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-germany-election-steinmeier-fb-idUKTRE58M2HT20090923 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> In one significant foreign policy disagreement, Steinmeier held in 2009 that Germany should by 2013 lay the groundwork for withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, a deployment that around two-thirds of Germans opposed by then.<ref name="German Challenger Gains an Edge">{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Marcus |date=2009-09-14 |title=German Challenger Gains an Edge |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125288315470307157 |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Unlike Merkel, he also favored Turkish entry into the [[European Union]].<ref name="Noah Barkin" />

Also, Steinmeier became known for his rather Russia-friendly stance, arguing strenuously for engagement with the increasingly assertive power to the east, rather than its isolation.<ref name="Nicholas Kulish">{{Cite news |last=Kulish |first=Nicholas |date=2008-09-06 |title=Without Primaries or Caucuses, Campaign for German Chancellor Begins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/world/europe/06germany.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He formulated a policy toward Russia deliberately reminiscent of "[[Ostpolitik]]", the eastward-facing policy pioneered by Chancellor [[Willy Brandt]] in the early 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Landler |first=Mark |date=2007-05-22 |title=Putin Prompts Split in German Coalition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/world/europe/22europe.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Together with Gernot Erler, the SPD's leading Russia expert and the deputy foreign minister, Steinmeier initiated Germany's so-called Partnership for Modernization with Russia (announced in 2008), which became an official EU policy in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Umland |first=Jakob Mischke & Andreas |date=2014-03-20 |title=Germany abandons its ‘soft' approach to Russia |url=https://mondediplo.com/outsidein/germany-abandons-its-soft-approach-to-russia |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Le Monde diplomatique |language=en}}</ref> 

Pressed by lawmakers to say more on his attitude toward Russia in the wake of the high-profile murders of opposition figures [[Anna Politkovskaya]] and [[Alexander Litvinenko]] at a January 2007 hearing at the [[European Parliament]], Steinmeier stated that "[t]here is a certain trend toward [media] hysterics and one needs to get a sense of reason back into the debate".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-01-23 |title=Steinmeier sketches new EU policy on Central Asia |url=https://euobserver.com/foreign/23329 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=EUobserver |language=en}}</ref>

Dr Frank Umbach had warned as early as February 2006 that Germany had become too dependent on Russia but Steinmeier, citing the new [[Ostpolitik]], disregarded him.<ref name="dwdgp">{{cite news |title=Russia's Gazprom - Corrupt politicians and the greed of the west |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCNHwH9MxGA |agency=YouTube |publisher=DW Documentary |date=10 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="umbach06">{{cite news |last1=Umbach |first1=Frank |title=Europas nächster Kalter Krieg |url=https://internationalepolitik.de/de/europas-naechster-kalter-krieg |publisher=Internationale Politik |date=1 February 2006 |language=de}}</ref> In March 2007 Steinmeier published a long article in reply to Umbach explaining his rationale on the EU being such an exceptional role model on international cooperation that Putinite [[Russia]] would unavoidably get "like us" by mere "intertwining of interests" (''Verflechtung''), and also that "a pan-European peace order and a lasting solution to important security problems (…) can only be achieved with Russia, not without it or even against it".<ref name=steinmeier07>{{Cite web |title=Verflechtung und Integration |url=https://internationalepolitik.de/de/verflechtung-und-integration |first=Frank-Walter |last=Steinmeier |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=Internationale Politik }}</ref> Steinmeier helped to admit Putin's Russia into the [[WTO]],<ref name=steinmeier07/> which occurred in 2011.<ref name="rusmem">{{Cite web |title=WTO {{!}} 2011 News items - Ministerial Conference approves Russia’s WTO membership |url=https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news11_e/acc_rus_16dec11_e.htm |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.wto.org}}</ref>

On 18 December 2007, Steinmeier and [[Dmitry Medvedev]] signed an agreement on behalf of [[BASF]] to exploit another gas field. At the time, 40 per cent of German demand was satisfied by Russian supply.<ref name=dwdgp/>

Steinmeier went with Merkel to the [[2008 Bucharest summit|21st NATO Summit in Bucharest]], and they formed a common front with French president [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] to block the proposal backed by U.S. president [[George W. Bush]] and Eastern European leaders of accession of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Ukraine]] to membership in the organization, with the intent of keeping good relations with the Kremlin.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wiegrefe |first=Klaus |date=2023-09-25 |title=SPIEGEL Reconstruction: How Merkel Prevented Ukraine's NATO Membership |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/ukraine-how-merkel-prevented-ukraine-s-nato-membership-a-der-spiegel-reconstruction-a-c7f03472-2a21-4e4e-b905-8e45f1fad542 |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=Der Spiegel |language=en |issn=2195-1349}}</ref>

In May 2008, he became the first foreign official to hold talks with President [[Dmitri Medvedev]] and Prime Minister [[Vladimir Putin]] after they took up their new positions following the [[2008 Russian presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dempsey |first=Judy |date=2008-05-15 |title=Russia: German Foreign Minister Visits |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/world/europe/15briefs-GERMANFOREIG_BRF.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2006, ''[[Foreign Affairs]]'' published an analysis of the state of US and Russian nuclear forces, concluding that post-Cold War US nuclear forces seemed designed to carry out a preemptive strike against Russia or China and that the planned missile defense would be valuable primarily in an offensive context as an adjunct to a US [[Pre-emptive nuclear strike#Destabilizing role of missile defense|first-strike]] capability.<ref name="www.foreignaffairs.com">{{Cite web |last=Lieber |first=Keir A. |last2=Press |first2=Daryl G. |date=2006-03-01 |title=The Rise of U.S. Nuclear Primacy {{!}} Foreign Affairs |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2006-03-01/rise-us-nuclear-primacy |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.foreignaffairs.com |language=en}}</ref> The article elicited a semi-official Russian response from ex-PM [[Yegor Gaidar]] in the ''Financial Times'' a few days later.<ref name="www.ft.com">{{Cite news |date=2006-03-28 |title=Nuclear punditry can be a dangerous game |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5beab630-be83-11da-b10f-0000779e2340 |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=Financial Times}}</ref> In 2007, the US government was reportedly deeply irritated, although publicly silent, about Steinmeier, who had sounded supportive of Russian accusations that a planned [[US missile defense complex in Poland]] would upset the strategic balance in Europe – and who then left without challenge Russian General Nikolai Solovtsov's threat of retaliation against Poland and the Czech Republic if they deployed U.S. defensive systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vinocur |first=John |title=Silenced by Self-Inflicted Impotence |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/iht/2007/02/27/world/IHT-27politicus.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=archive.nytimes.com}}</ref> 

Russian opposition activists later celebrated when Steinmeier and the SDP lost the 2009 election, signaling their discontent with Steinmeier. [[Oleg Petrovich Orlov]], head of the [[Memorial (society)|Memorial human rights group]], said that Steinmeier had prolonged Schröder's policies on Russia and that Germany's policies were "extremely bad for civil society, democracy and the country as a whole".<ref name="mitrokhin">{{Cite web |title=The Moscow Times {{!}} News {{!}} German Vote Raises Hopes in Russia |url=http://www.moscowtimes.ru/news/article/384405.html?bcsi_scan_3824BCB8D8969319=VysKnwvdmKseymeU5/v6mRAAAAArVj4G&bcsi_scan_filename=384405.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20091005002344/http://www.moscowtimes.ru:80/news/article/384405.html?bcsi_scan_3824BCB8D8969319=VysKnwvdmKseymeU5/v6mRAAAAArVj4G&bcsi_scan_filename=384405.html |archive-date=2009-10-05 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.moscowtimes.ru}}</ref>

In February 2009, Steinmeier became the first member of Merkel's cabinet to be received by the incoming [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-02-03 |title=German Foreign Minister to Meet Clinton: Steinmeier Calls For 'New Trans-Atlantic Agenda' |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-foreign-minister-to-meet-clinton-steinmeier-calls-for-new-trans-atlantic-agenda-a-605170.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=Der Spiegel |language=en |issn=2195-1349}}</ref>

During his time in office, Steinmeier managed to extract German hostages from Iraq<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moulson |first=Geir |date=2005-12-18 |title=German Foreign Minister Confirms Hostage in Iraq Is Free |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/18/AR2005121800356.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=German hostages freed in Iraq |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2006/5/2/german-hostages-freed-in-iraq |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> and Yemen.<ref name="economist.com" /> In 2007, he also succeeded in securing the release of a German citizen who was imprisoned in Iran for illegally entering the country's waters on a fishing expedition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran releases German fisherman |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2007/3/13/iran-releases-german-fisherman |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

Steinmeier served as acting chairman of the SPD from 7 September 2008 to 18 October 2008. Domestically, throughout his term he was the only major politician with approval ratings consistently as high as or higher than Merkel's. This was helped by the especially high ratings foreign ministers generally receive in Germany.<ref name="Nicholas Kulish" />

===Opposition leader, 2009–2013===
On 7 September 2008, following the resignation of SPD chairman [[Kurt Beck]], Steinmeier was chosen as the SPD candidate for chancellor for the [[2009 German federal election|2009 federal elections]] and also designated as acting SPD Chairman, pending the return of Müntefering to that position.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090620062732/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/08/content_9840654.htm "German SPD party reshuffles leadership, with eye on election"], Xinhua, 7 September 2008.</ref> In his election campaign, he argued for new tax rules to deter high executive pay and bonuses, and for minimum wages to slow the growing gap between Germany's highest and lowest earners.<ref name="German Challenger Gains an Edge" /> He also focused on improving public healthcare.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Germany’s parties and politicians |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2009/9/27/germanys-parties-and-politicians |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Frank-Walter Steinmeier WJC 2014.jpg|thumb|Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier addressing a dinner of the [[World Jewish Congress]] in Berlin, September 2014]] 
After the SPD's decisive defeat in the elections – the party's worst performance since [[World War II]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 September 2009 |title=Merkel's rival concedes defeat in German election |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/6237210/Merkels-rival-concedes-defeat-in-German-election.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Merkel’s Third-Term Cabinet: Social Democratic Party Ministers |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-15/merkel-s-third-term-cabinet-social-democratic-party-ministers.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20141101184426/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-15/merkel-s-third-term-cabinet-social-democratic-party-ministers.html |archive-date=2014-11-01 |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=Bloomberg |language=en}}</ref> by then – Steinmeier, who had been elected to represent [[Brandenburg an der Havel – Potsdam-Mittelmark I – Havelland III – Teltow-Fläming I]], was elected [[Peter Struck (politician)|Peter Struck]]'s successor as chairman of the SPD's parliamentary group in the [[Bundestag]], and as such leader of the opposition.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 September 2009 |title=Steinmeier wird Oppositionsführer |language=de |work=Die Zeit |url=http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2009-09/spd-steinmeier-opposition}}</ref> After a hospitalization for donating a kidney to his wife in August 2010, Steinmeier returned to his office in October 2010.

During his time as leader of the parliamentary opposition, Steinmeier regularly accused Angela Merkel's government of increasing the national debt and pandering to the rich.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dempsey |first=Judy |date=2009-11-16 |title=Social Democrats in Germany Strive to Rebound From Election Pummeling |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/world/europe/16iht-germany.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2011, Steinmeier argued that Merkel's decision to appoint her economics adviser, [[Jens Weidmann]], to be the next head of the [[Bundesbank]] undermined the political independence and public trust in the German central bank.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dempsey |first=Judy |date=2011-02-16 |title=Merkel Names an Adviser to Lead the Central Bank |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/business/global/17jens-weidmann.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In late 2012, Steinmeier was once again considered a possible candidate to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in the 2013 general election, but soon withdrew from the contest. As a consequence, SPD chairman [[Sigmar Gabriel]] later announced that the leadership agreed to nominate [[Peer Steinbrück]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eddy |first=Melissa |date=2012-09-28 |title=Merkel’s Ex-Finance Minister to Oppose Her |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/29/world/europe/merkels-former-finance-minister-set-to-run-against-her.html |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Second term as Foreign Minister, 2013–2017===
[[File:Secretary Kerry Delivers Remarks With German Foreign Minister Steinmeier During a Working Dinner at the State Department (16582387597).jpg|thumbnail|Steinmeier with U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] in March 2015]]

After the [[2013 German federal election|elections of 2013]] and the new grand coalition government, Steinmeier was appointed foreign minister for a second time in December 2013. He replaced [[Guido Westerwelle]], who had signed the [[P5+1]] accord with Iran in November 2013. His deputies were [[Michael Roth (politician)|Michael Roth]] (SPD) and [[Maria Böhmer]] (CDU). Upon taking office, Steinmeier initiated an ambitious review of Germany's foreign policy, holding meetings nationwide and drawing in more than 12,000 people who worked at the ministry or abroad.<ref>Alison Smale (19 November 2014), [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/world/europe/frank-walter-steinmeier-germanys-foreign-minister-a-man-in-the-middle.html Germany's Foreign Minister, a Man in the Middle – Frank-Walter Steinmeier Meets With Vladimir Putin], ''The New York Times''.</ref>
[[File:FM Javad Zarif meeting German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Tehran 139411132358146947028224.jpg|thumb|Steinmeier with Iranian Foreign Minister [[Mohammad Javad Zarif]] in Tehran, February 2016]]

Over the course of 2014, Steinmeier alternated with Merkel as Germany's most popular politician in polls of eligible voters.<ref>Birgit Jennen (18 June 2014), [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-06-17/merkel-running-for-fourth-term-seen-possible-by-ally-de-maiziere Merkel Running for Fourth Term Seen Possible by Ally De Maiziere] ''Bloomberg News''.</ref>

In light of criticism from the United States, Steinmeier stood firm on Germany's approach in the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], where it was balancing support for European economic sanctions on Russia with leaving the door open to a revived partnership.<ref>Patrick Donahue (12 March 2015), [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-12/germany-blasts-republicans-in-u-s-on-iran-nuclear-talks Germany Blasts Republicans in U.S. on Iran Nuclear Talks] ''Bloomberg News''.</ref> In May 2014, he proposed a greater mediation role for the [[OSCE]], including the convening of local "round table" talks in Ukraine to defuse conflicts.<ref>[http://www.dw.de/ukraine-germany-calls-for-second-geneva-conference/a-17612046 Ukraine: Germany calls for second Geneva conference] ''Deutsche Welle'', 4 May 2014.</ref> The '''Steinmeier formula''', as it is known to readers of Russian media, is synonymous with the [[Minsk II]] agreement.<ref name="tass15">{{cite news |title=Way out of crisis in Ukraine is implementation of Steinmeier formula — Scholz |url=https://tass.com/world/1403949 |publisher=TASS |date=15 February 2022}}</ref> Between 2015 and 2016, Steinmeier hosted a series of [[Normandy format]] meetings in Berlin to negotiate a solution of the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|situation in the East of Ukraine]].<ref>[[Alison Smale]] (13 September 2015), [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/14/world/europe/parties-in-ukraine-conflict-are-urged-to-build-on-progress.html Guarded Optimism as Cease-Fire Holds in East Ukraine] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>

During the [[Minsk II]] talks on a ceasefire for eastern Ukraine in early 2015, he successfully negotiated with Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] on allowing German doctors to visit Ukrainian military pilot [[Nadiya Savchenko]], who had been on hunger strike for more than two months in a Russian jail.<ref>Alexandra Hudson (23 February 2015), [https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/02/23/world/europe/23reuters-ukraine-crisis-savchenko-germany.html German Doctors Visited Detained Ukrainian Pilot in Russia] ''The New York Times''.</ref> Steinmeier has repeatedly ruled out arms shipments to resolve the conflict,<ref>Patrick Donahue (11 March 2015), [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-11/merkel-s-top-diplomat-to-rebuff-u-s-call-to-arm-ukraine Merkel's Top Diplomat to Rebuff U.S. Call to Arm Ukraine] ''Bloomberg News''.</ref> and that was German policy until two days after the 24 February [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], at which time Chancellor [[Olaf Scholz]] ended it.{{cn |date=March 2024}}

In 2015, Steinmeier hosted a meeting of the delegations from Libya's two rival governments, who were battling for control of the country, and United Nations Special Representative [[Bernardino León]] to discuss a UN-sponsored peace and power-sharing proposal despite splits among some of the parties.<ref>[https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Jun-11/301520-eu-leaders-push-libya-rivals-over-peace-deal.ashx EU leaders push Libya rivals over peace deal] ''The Daily Star'', 11 June 2015.</ref>

Steinmeier later was instrumental in convening the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and the [[Syria peace talks in Vienna]] in October 2015, drawing together [[Saudi Arabia]]; its main regional rival, [[Iran]]; as well as Russia, the United States and other Western powers and regional actors including [[Turkey]] and [[Iraq]].<ref>Alison Smale (3 December 2015), [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/world/europe/germany-rebukes-its-own-intelligence-agency-for-criticizing-saudi-policy.html Germany Rebukes Its Own Intelligence Agency for Criticizing Saudi Policy] ''The New York Times''.</ref>

===Political positions===

====Human rights====
In the past, ''[[Human Rights Watch]]'' has labeled Steinmeier as "[[Realpolitik]] advocate", for whom, "when it comes to defining his relationship with countries" such as Russia, China, [[Iran]] and [[Saudi Arabia]], "human rights play only a subordinate role".<ref>Wenzel Michalski (10 February 2014), [https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/02/10/second-chance-german-foreign-minister-steinmeier A Second Chance for German Foreign Minister Steinmeier] ''Human Rights Watch''.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Michalski |first1=Wenzel |title=Steinmeier's Strategic Error |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/10/26/steinmeiers-strategic-error |work=Human Rights Watch |date=26 October 2015}}</ref>

In Steinmeier's opinion, the "[r]ejection of capital punishment is one of the keystones of German human-rights policy. The death penalty goes against our fundamental ethic and moral principles".<ref>[http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2009/091009-BM-Gegen-Todesstrafe.html Federal Minister Steinmeier on the World Day against the Death Penalty] Federal Foreign Office, press release of 9 October 2009.</ref> He personally called for the abolition of the [[Capital punishment in Uzbekistan|death penalty in Uzbekistan]]; capital punishment in Uzbekistan has been abolished since 2008.<ref>[http://www.dubai.diplo.de/Vertretung/dubai/en/03/HumanRights__seite.html Speech by Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to the German Bundestag on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights] Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dubai, 5 December 2008.</ref> In April 2014, he summoned the Egyptian ambassador Mohamed Higazy after a [[2014 Minya court rulings|Cairo court]] sentenced 683 individuals to death for inciting violence during protests in summer 2013, following the military overthrow of elected President [[Mohammed Morsi]].<ref>Robert Hutton (3 February 2014), [http://www.dw.de/steinmeier-summons-egyptian-ambassador-after-mass-death-sentence/a-17601540 Steinmeier summons Egyptian ambassador after mass death sentence] ''Deutsche Welle'', 29 April 2014.</ref> Following the [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt]], he warned that any move by Turkey to reinstate the death penalty would derail its efforts to join the European Union.<ref>Tom Körkemeier (18 July 2016), [https://www.reuters.com/article/turkey-security-germany-steinmeier-idUSB4N17M01K German formin: Death penalty would prevent Turkish EU membership] ''Reuters''.</ref> He criticized the [[2016–present purges in Turkey]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Germany's Steinmeier in Turkey |url=https://learngerman.dw.com/en/germanys-steinmeier-in-turkey-to-promote-human-rights-press-freedom/a-36395429 |work=Deutsche Welle}}</ref>

In response to the [[2009–10 Iranian election protests|protests]] following the [[2009 Iranian presidential election]] against the disputed victory of Iranian President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]], Steinmeier condemned what he called "brutal actions" against demonstrators in Tehran and summoned the Iranian ambassador [[Alireza Sheikhattar]] to explain.<ref>Dave Graham (14 June 2009), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-election-germany-sb-idUSTRE55D1Z820090615 Germany summons Iranian ambassador over election] ''Reuters''.</ref>

====European integration====
[[File:2007 06 21 kaczynski bruksela 02.jpg|thumb|Polish President [[Lech Kaczyński]], German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], Steinmeier, and [[Anna Fotyga]] in Brussels, June 2007]]
After Germany had only narrowly managed to avoid a deficit warning from the [[European Commission]] in 2002, Schröder and Steinmeier became the driving forces behind weakening the [[Stability and Growth Pact]], a rule-based framework for the coordination of national fiscal policies originally intended as the guarantor of a stable euro.<ref>Christian Reiermann and Klaus Wiegrefe (16 July 2012), [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/chancellor-gerhard-schroeder-key-in-weakening-the-euro-stability-pact-a-844458.html Chancellor Schröder's Legacy: Germany's Leading Role in Weakening the Euro] ''Der Spiegel''.</ref>

In a joint article in the ''[[Financial Times]]'' on 14 December 2010, Steinmeier and [[Peer Steinbrück]] proposed to solve the [[European debt crisis]] with "a combination of a haircut for debt holders, debt guarantees for stable countries and the limited introduction of European-wide bonds in the medium term, accompanied by more aligned fiscal policies".<ref>Peer Steinbrück and Frank-Walter Steinmeier (14 December 2010), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/effa001c-07ba-11e0-a568-00144feabdc0.html Germany must lead fightback] ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref> In February 2011, Steinmeier proposed Steinbrück as a candidate to lead the European Central Bank.<ref>Erik Kirschbaum (13 February 2011), [https://web.archive.org/web/20170214181011/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ecb-weber-steinbrueck-idUKTRE71C0VY20110213 Steinbrueck says not interested in ECB's top job] ''Reuters''.</ref>

Under Steinmeier's parliamentary leadership, the Social Democrats raised pressure on Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] to agree to more burden-sharing to stem the [[European debt crisis|euro zone crisis]], repeatedly calling on her to assume greater risks to avert a breakup of the single currency.<ref>Rainer Buergin (9 August 2012), [https://web.archive.org/web/20120812003103/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-09/merkel-s-spd-opposition-urges-more-german-crisis-burden-sharing German SPD Demands Merkel Backs More Crisis Burden-Sharing] ''Bloomberg Businessweek''.</ref> In both February and November 2012, his parliamentary group voted largely in favour of the Merkel government's proposal for [[Greek government-debt crisis|eurozone bailout packages for Greece]],<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17176616 Greece bailout: German MPs give strong backing] ''BBC News'', 27 February 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/11/2012113014469669490.html German parliament approves Greek bailout fund] ''[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]'', 30 November 2012.</ref><ref>Gareth Jones and Stephen Brown (30 November 2012), [https://web.archive.org/web/20170214180925/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eurozone-germany-greece-idUKBRE8AT0BY20121130 German lawmakers approve Greek bailout despite qualms] ''Reuters''.</ref> while criticizing the measures as being "not an enduring solution for the Greeks".<ref>Charles Hawley (30 November 2012), [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-parliament-votes-to-approve-new-greece-aid-package-a-870259.html Squabbling in the Bundestag: German Parliament Rubber Stamps Aid for Greece] ''Spiegel Online''.</ref> In July 2014, he helped build the opposition's support for a euro zone rescue package for Spanish banks.<ref>Annika Breidthardt and Michelle Martin (20 July 2012), [https://web.archive.org/web/20170214180114/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eurozone-germany-vote-idUKBRE86I0XX20120720 Merkel wins Spanish aid vote with big majority] ''Reuters''.</ref> Later, as foreign minister, he publicly advised against "frivolous" talk of a [[Greek withdrawal from the eurozone]], calling for a serious search for a solution.<ref>Michelle Martin (14 April 2015), [https://www.reuters.com/article/eurozone-greece-mogherini-idUSB4N0RU00820150414 Mogherini says Europe must show flexibility on Greece] ''Reuters''.</ref>

Reacting to a growth of euro-skeptic political parties across Europe by early 2014, Steinmeier offered the United Kingdom limited support on renegotiating the [[Treaties of the European Union]], saying Germany wanted to see Britain's influence in the "midst" of the EU, not on "the sidelines".<ref>Robert Hutton (3 February 2014), [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-03/germany-offers-u-k-limited-support-on-eu-treaty-negotiation.html Germany Offers U.K. Limited Support on EU Treaty Negotiation] ''Bloomberg''.</ref> After Britain's vote to leave the EU in 2016, he argued that the union lacked the cohesion to undertake major new integration steps and should instead focus on migration, high youth unemployment and security.<ref>Andrea Shalal (13 September 2016), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-germany-idUSKCN11J2BO Germany's Steinmeier against new integration push by EU] ''Reuters''.</ref>

At the same time, Steinmeier worked to develop new formats and revive new ones. In December 2014, he met with the foreign ministers from the three [[Nordic countries]] [[Denmark]], [[Finland]] and Sweden – [[Margot Wallström]], [[Erkki Tuomioja]] and [[Martin Lidegaard]] – for the so-called "N3 + 1" format to discuss issues of common concern for the first time.<ref>Mu Xuequan (2 December 2014), [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/europe/europe/2014-12/02/c_127267588.htm FMs from Germany, three Nordic countries meet first time in "N3 + 1" format] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217211709/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/europe/europe/2014-12/02/c_127267588.htm |date=17 December 2014 }} ''Xinhua News Agency''.</ref>

In August 2016, he joined French foreign minister [[Jean-Marc Ayrault]] in pledging to "reinvigorate" the [[Weimar Triangle]] and published a document 'A strong Europe in a world of uncertainties'.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 June 2016 |title=A strong Europe in a world of uncertainties |url=http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/european-union/events/article/a-strong-europe-in-a-world-of-uncertainties-28-06-16 |website=French Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}</ref>

Between 2014 and 2016, he visited the three [[Baltic states]] – [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]] – six times, the highest number of visits by any German Foreign Minister.<ref>Richard Milne (12 March 2014), [https://www.ft.com/content/9343f7d8-a97e-11e3-b87c-00144feab7de Crimea occupation casts shadow of 1940 over Baltic nations] ''Financial Times''.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Troianovski|first=Anton|author-link=Anton Troianovski|date=17 April 2015|title=Germany Seeks to Counter Russian 'Propaganda' in Baltics|language=en|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/germany-seeks-to-counter-russian-propaganda-in-baltics-1429294362|access-date=28 January 2022|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

Also in late 2014, Steinmeier and his British counterpart [[Philip Hammond]] united in a bid to end a deadlock in relations between [[Bosnia]] and the European Union, arguing that the EU should abandon its insistence on changes to Bosnia's electoral code as a precondition for a [[Stabilisation and Association Process|Stabilization and Association Agreement]] on the path to EU membership.<ref>Andrew Gardner (6 November 2014), [http://www.politico.eu/article/uk-germany-bid-to-change-eus-bosnia-policy/ UK, Germany bid to change EU's Bosnia policy] ''European Voice''.</ref>

====Energy policy====
In 2007, Steinmeier said he opposes European Commission proposals on unbundling the ownership of energy networks in the European Union, as it was proposed in the [[Third Energy Package]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20120730002752/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL2056183720070120 German minister opposes EU utility unbundling idea] ''Reuters'' 20 January 2007</ref>

====Relations with France====
On 14 May 2014, Steinmeier became the first German foreign minister to attend a meeting of the [[Cabinet of France|French cabinet]].<ref>Alison Smale (15 October 2014), [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/16/world/europe/laurent-fabius-france-german-cabinet-meeting.html French Minister Attends German Cabinet Session] ''The New York Times''.</ref> Together with his French counterpart [[Laurent Fabius]], he flew on several joint diplomatic missions between 2014 and 2015, including to [[Moldova]], Georgia,<ref>Margarita Antidze (24 April 2014), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-georgia-eu-idUSBREA3N1JE20140424 France, Germany show EU support for Georgia as Ukraine crisis mounts] ''Reuters''.</ref> [[Tunisia]], [[Nigeria]] and [[Bangladesh]]. In 2016, he joined Fabius' successor [[Jean-Marc Ayrault]] for trips to [[Ukraine]], [[Libya]],<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36065375 France and Germany back Libya unity cabinet] ''BBC News'', 16 April 2016.</ref> [[Mali]]<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/german-and-french-foreign-ministers-pledge-support-for-mali/a-19228785 German and French foreign ministers pledge support for Mali] ''Deutsche Welle'', 2 May 2016.</ref> and [[Niger]].<ref>Conor Gaffey (4 May 2016), [http://europe.newsweek.com/niger-needs-1-billion-european-funding-tackle-migration-minister-455530 Niger Needs $1 Billion From Europe to Tackle Migration: Minister] ''Newsweek''.</ref>
[[File:Vladimir Putin and Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2016-03-23) 01.jpg|thumb|Steinmeier with [[Vladimir Putin]], March 2016]]

====Relations with Russia====
In May 2007, the daily ''[[Financial Times Deutschland]]'' reported that Steinmeier had served as mediator in the so-called [[Bronze Night]] controversy, an Estonia-Russia dispute over the removal of a [[Red Army]] memorial in Tallinn. According to the report, Steinmeier suggested the Estonian ambassador to Russia, [[Marina Kaljurand]], go on vacation in an effort to calm the situation. Steinmeier called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to suggest not only that Kaljurand take a holiday, but also that Russia drop the dispute for the time being. After speaking with Lavrov, Steinmeier reportedly called Estonian Foreign Minister [[Urmas Paet]] and got him to agree to the deal. Kaljurand left Moscow for a two-week vacation and pro-Kremlin youth activists blockading the Estonian embassy in Moscow ended their protests the same day.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/steinmeier-to-discuss-eu-russia-tensions-on-baltic-tour/a-2676177 Steinmeier to Discuss EU-Russia Tensions on Baltic Tour] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 10 July 2007.</ref> Upon returning to government in late 2013, Steinmeier criticized Russia in his inaugural speech for exploiting Ukraine's economic plight to prevent it from signing the [[Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement]].<ref>Alexandra Hudson (17 December 2013), [https://web.archive.org/web/20170213163817/http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-germany-idUKBRE9BG0VZ20131217 New German minister criticizes Russia over Ukraine] ''Reuters''.</ref> In March 2014, he defended Russia's membership of the [[G8]], saying "The format of the G8 is actually the only one in which we in the West can speak directly with Russia."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milne |first=Richard |date=2014-03-12 |title=German foreign minister against excluding Russia from G8 |url=https://3beat.uk.com/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=3beat.uk.com}}</ref> When Germany held the chairmanship of the group in 2015, he maintained that excluding Russia over its actions in Ukraine was a necessary step but not a goal in itself; citing the Middle East, he argued that "a look at the world shows that we need Russia as a constructive partner in a number of conflicts".<ref>Andreas Rinke (4 June 2015), [https://web.archive.org/web/20151224010502/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ukraine-crisis-germany-steinmeier-idUKKBN0OK1LK20150604 German minister says G7 should welcome back Russia longer term] ''Reuters''.</ref> In April 2014 Steinmeier argued that a policy of de-escalation towards Russia was necessary, instead of the sanctions which were applied in the wake of the [[2014 annexation of Crimea]].<ref name="rr14">{{cite news |title=Germany's Steinmeier urges focus on de-escalation with Russia, not sanctions |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-germany-steinmeier-idUSL6N0NB0KN20140419/ |publisher=Reuters |date=19 April 2014}}</ref> In a 2015 letter to [[Cecilia Malmström]], the EU's trade chief, Steinmeier proposed a joint declaration between the EU and Russia offering Moscow the prospect of long-sought investment and energy concessions to create a more integrated economic area from the Atlantic to the Pacific. According to the letter, "by the content of this declaration we could respond to Russia's wishes and begin a closer exchange of views on energy and investment protection issues, even if the [[Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement]] does not directly touch on them".<ref>Alex Barker, Stefan Wagstyl and Roman Olearchyk (1 December 2015), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4ee93654-9840-11e5-9228-87e603d47bdc.html Germany pushes EU-Russia deal to avert Ukraine trade pact tension] ''Financial Times''.</ref>

In June 2016, Steinmeier criticised [[NATO]] 'warmongering' on Russia: "The one thing we shouldn't do now is inflame the situation with loud sabre-rattling and warmongering."<ref>"[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/german-foreign-minister-accuses-nato-of-warmongering-russia-military-exercises-tensions-anaconda-16-a7088936.html German foreign minister accuses Nato of 'warmongering' with military exercises that could worsen tensions with Russia]". ''The Independent''. 18 June 2016.</ref> The CDU politicians [[Volker Bouffier]] and [[Herbert Reul]] criticised him for his stance on Russia,<ref name="t-online.de-2016">{{Cite news |date=20 June 2016 |title=Union attackiert "Putin-Versteher" Steinmeier |language=de |work=t-online.de |url=http://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/deutschland/id_78174888/kritik-an-nato-einsatz-union-attackiert-putin-versteher-steinmeier.html}}</ref> while his comments were welcomed by the Russian media.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 June 2016 |title=Warum der Kreml Steinmeier feiert |language=de |trans-title=Why the Kremlin is celebrating Steinmeier |work=Bild |url=http://www.bild.de/politik/inland/dr-frank-walter-steinmeier/kommentar-zur-nato-kritik-falsch-falscher-steinmeier-46391678.bild.html}}</ref>

In their book ''[[Die Moskau-Connection. Das Schröder-Netzwerk und Deutschlands Weg in die Abhängigkeit|Die Moskau-Connection]]'', journalists Bingener and Wehner describe the network around Schröder and his support for Putin's policies. Steinmeier was part of that network. Bingener and Wehner write that Steinmeier considered Putin to be rational and accessible. Steinmeier also did not draw any conclusions from the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|annexation of Crimea]] in February 2014.<ref>Reinhard Bingener, Markus Wehner: ''Die Moskau Connection. Das Schröder-Netzwerk und Deutschlands Weg in die Abhängigkeit''. C.H. Beck, München 2023, p. 177-179.</ref> Steinmeier did not resolutely oppose Putin's logic, in which there is only winning and losing. Bingener and Wehner:<ref>Reinhard Bingener, Markus Wehner: ''Die Moskau Connection. Das Schröder-Netzwerk und Deutschlands Weg in die Abhängigkeit''. C.H. Beck, München 2023, p. 118.</ref>
{{blockquote |text=This is another reason why he is well-liked in Moscow. He is a rather timid person. While his predecessor [[Joschka Fischer]] got along with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov easily and often interrupted [...{{nbsp}}him], Steinmeier has a hard time speaking to Lavrov. 'Dear Sergei', as Steinmeier sometimes calls him, is often harsh and hurtful to his interlocutors. He doesn't need to be that with the German Foreign Minister.}}

====Relations with the United States====
Steinmeier voiced his support for [[Barack Obama]] when Obama was still a presidential candidate, and supported Obama's wish to deliver a speech before the iconic [[Brandenburg Gate]] during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schmiese |first=Wulf |date=12 July 2008 |title=Obama und das Brandenburger Tor: Jetzt hat auch Steinmeier einen Dalai Lama |work=FAZ.NET |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/machtwechsel-in-amerika/obama-und-das-brandenburger-tor-jetzt-hat-auch-steinmeier-einen-dalai-lama-1668939.html}}</ref>

In 2016 Steinmeier described then-U.S. presidential candidate [[Donald Trump]] as a "hate preacher".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bannas |first=Günter |date=8 November 2016 |title=Der unbekannte Trump: Berlins Sorge vor dem "Hassprediger" |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/wahl-in-amerika/bundesregierung-bangt-vor-donald-trump-sieg-bei-us-wahl-2016-14518337.html |website=FAZ.NET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 August 2016 |title=German Foreign Minister Steinmeier warns of 'hate preacher' Trump |url=http://www.dw.com/en/german-foreign-minister-steinmeier-warns-of-hate-preacher-trump/a-19450082 |website=Deutsche Welle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Germany's likely next president has called Trump a 'hate preacher' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/11/14/germanys-likely-next-president-has-called-trump-a-hate-preacher/ |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> After Trump's election, Steinmeier refused to congratulate him, and condemned [[Political views of Donald Trump|Trump's views]].<ref>{{Cite web |title="Ich will nichts schönreden": Steinmeier gratuliert Trump nicht |url=http://www.n-tv.de/politik/Steinmeier-gratuliert-Trump-nicht-article19045691.html |website=Nachrichtenfernsehen TV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wehner |first=Markus |date=14 November 2016 |title=Deutsche Politiker zu Trump: Falsch! |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/wahl-in-amerika/reaktion-deutscher-politiker-zu-donald-trump-koennte-schaden-14525131.html |website=FAZ.NET}}</ref> He has been described as "the German government's most strident detractor" of Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2016 |title=Coalition backs 'anti-Trump' to be new German president |url=http://www.thelocal.de/20161114/merkels-bloc-close-to-backing-presidential-candidate |website=The Local}}</ref>

====Relations with Central Asia====
During a 2006 meeting with Turkmen President [[Saparmurat Niyazov]], Steinmeier criticized [[Turkmenistan]] for its slow progress in implementing the [[rule of law]] and human rights and said that the state's progress in carrying out political reforms had been "too halting".<ref>Margarita Antidze (24 April 2014), [http://www.dw.de/steinmeier-criticizes-central-asias-forgotten-dictatorship/a-2223590 Steinmeier Criticizes Central Asia's Forgotten Dictatorship], ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 2 November 2006.</ref>

When Germany chaired a United Nations group aimed at resolving [[2008 Russo-Georgian diplomatic crisis]], Steinmeier presented to the three conflict parties – Georgia, [[Abkhazia]] and Russia – a plan which included a three-stage peace proposal, entailing an end to violence, confidence-building measures over the following year that could lead to the resumption of direct talks between Georgia and Abkhazia, and the return of about 250,000 Georgian refugees to Abkhazia. However, both Georgia and Abkhazia rejected the proposal.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2008/07/2008718103851933285.html Abkhazia rejects peace plan] ''[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]'', 18 July 2008.</ref> In September 2008, Steinmeier called for an international probe into the conflict over Georgia's breakaway provinces.<ref>[http://www.dw.de/steinmeier-calls-for-international-probe-into-georgia-conflict/a-3620822 Steinmeier Calls for International Probe Into Georgia Conflict] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 5 September 2008.</ref> During a 2014 visit to the country, he reiterated that membership of [[NATO]] and of the EU would remain off the cards for a long while to come.<ref>Margarita Antidze (24 April 2014), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-georgia-eu-idUSBREA3N1JE20140424 France, Germany show EU support for Georgia as Ukraine crisis mounts] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref>

In August 2006, Steinmeier made his first visit to [[Afghanistan]], where Germany had taken over the command of the 21,000-strong NATO-led [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) shortly before.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/steinmeier-reasserts-germanys-pledge-to-afghanistan/a-2142155 Steinmeier Reasserts Germany's Pledge to Afghanistan] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 21 August 2006.</ref> Ahead of the [[2009 German federal election|2009 federal elections]], Steinmeier – then still in his capacity as foreign minister – commissioned an internal report on Germany's engagement in Afghanistan which recommended that Germany should start pulling out of the country within four years; at the time, this was seen as a stark departure from Steinmeier's earlier insistence Germany should not set a date for withdrawing its then 4,200-strong contingent from the north of Afghanistan as the move could play into the hands of Taliban insurgents.<ref>Bertrand Benoit (13 September 2009), [https://web.archive.org/web/20141214155804/http://www.ft.com.financialtimes.han.w-hs.de/intl/cms/s/0/536d7a88-a093-11de-b9ef-00144feabdc0.html Steinmeier shifts stance on troop pullout] ''[[Financial Times]]''.</ref>

In October 2014, Steinmeier visited both [[Armenia]] and [[Azerbaijan]] to facilitate a negotiated solution to the long-standing conflict over [[Nagorny Karabakh]], a region of Azerbaijan controlled by [[Armenians|ethnic Armenians]].<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/11/armenia-warns-azeris-over-helicopter-shooting-20141112173518607733.html Armenia warns Azeris over helicopter shooting] ''[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]'', 12 November 2014.</ref> In 2016, he returned to both countries to in his capacity as chairman of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE) to reinvigorate the talks.<ref>Chase Winter (29 June 2016), [http://www.dw.com/en/germanys-top-diplomat-seeks-solutions-in-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict/a-19367766 Germany's top diplomat seeks solutions in Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]''.</ref>

====Israeli–Palestinian conflict====
[[File:Isaac Herzog in Beit HaNassi, November 2023 (ABG 1660).jpg|thumb|Steinmeier and Israels President [[Isaac Herzog]] in Jerusalem, November 2023]]
[[File:Isaac Herzog in Be'eri, November 2023 (GPOHZ0 1263).jpg|250px|thumb|right|President of Israel [[Isaac Herzog]] and President Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier visit Kibbutz [[Be'eri]], where Steinmeier announced Germany would contribute 7 million euros for the reconstruction of Kibbutz Be'eri's gallery that was burned by [[Hamas]], November 27, 2023]]

In the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]], Steinmeier supports a [[two-state solution]] and calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of the [[Palestinian territories]]. He welcomed the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334]] and said the [[Israeli settlements]] on occupied territory form an obstacle to peace and a two-state solution.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/israel-empoert-ueber-usa-steinmeier-begruesst-un-resolution-gegen-siedlungsbau/19175438.html|title=Steinmeier begrüßt UN-Resolution gegen Siedlungsbau|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=24 December 2016}}</ref> He further said that "a democratic Israel is achievable only through a two-state-solution".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/german-foreign-minister-says-settlements-jeopardize-peace-476923|title=German foreign minister says settlements jeopardize peace|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com|date=30 December 2016 }}</ref> Steinmeier praised [[John Kerry Parameters|the speech]] by US Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] which outlined the United States' position on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in December 2016; in the speech Kerry said a peace agreement must be based on the 1967 lines, that all citizens must enjoy equal rights, that occupation must end, that the Palestinian refugee issue must be resolved, and that Jerusalem must be the capital of both states, and criticised the Netanyahu government's agenda as driven by "extreme elements".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.t-online.de/-/79937014|title=Steinmeier verteidigt US-Außenminister Kerry|website=www.t-online.de|date=29 December 2016 }}</ref>

Steinmeier voiced support for Israel during the [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite news |title=German president reiterates support for Israel |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/german-president-reiterates-support-for-israel/3065770 |work=[[Anadolu Agency]] |date=27 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Nobel winner joins push to boycott German cultural institutions over Gaza |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/11/artists-urged-to-reject-german-institutions-over-berlins-stance-on-gaza |work=Al Jazeera |date=11 January 2024}}</ref> He called on [[Arabs in Germany|Arabs]] living in Germany to distance themselves from [[Hamas]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Steinmeier says Arabs in Germany should distance themselves from Hamas |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/8/german-president-says-arab-citizens-must-distance-themselves-from-hamas |work=Al Jazeera |date=8 November 2023}}</ref>

====Relations with Iran====
[[File:Negotiations about Iranian Nuclear Program - the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Other Officials of the P5+1 and Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iran and EU in Lausanne.jpg|thumb|Diplomats from the P5+1 countries, the [[European Union]] and Iran announcing the [[Comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme|JCPOA]]: Wu Hailong, Chinese ambassador to the UN; Laurent Fabius, French foreign minister; Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German foreign minister; Federica Mogherini, [[European Union|EU]] high representative for foreign affairs and security policy; [[Mohammad Javad Zarif]], Iranian foreign minister; Alexey Karpov, Russian deputy political director; [[Philip Hammond]], British foreign secretary and [[John Kerry]], US secretary of state, Lausanne, Switzerland on 2 April 2015<ref>Julian Borger: [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/03/lausanne-nuclear-deal-winners-and-losers Iran nuclear deal], The Guardian, 3 April 2015</ref>]]

Steinmeier visited Iran in October 2025 – it was the first extended visit by a [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany)|German foreign minister]] to Iran in 12 years. After meeting his Iranian colleague counterpart [[Mohammed Javad Zarif]], Steinmeier said that while Berlin and Tehran did not have congruent views on the Syrian conflict, they had "a common interest in ensuring an end to the killings." Iran, along with Russia, was a key backer of the Syrian government. The conflict had killed more than 250,000 people at the time, according to UN estimates. Pointing to the conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, Steinmeier underlined: "The region needs more diplomacy, not less." 

Steinmeier saw the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), the [[Comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme]] (JCPOA), that allowed Iran to maintain a civilian nuclear program from April 2015 as "an opening for further diplomatic endeavors" to resolve the [[List of modern conflicts in the Middle East|conflicts in the Middle East]]. The Group 5+1 had agreed to lift the [[international sanctions against Iran]]. Steinmeier is a proponent of the [[Iran nuclear deal framework]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Germany's Steinmeier: Nuclear deal 'opening' for Mideast diplomacy – 17.10.2015 |url=http://www.dw.com/en/germanys-steinmeier-nuclear-deal-opening-for-mideast-diplomacy/a-18789086 |website=Deutsche Welle}}</ref>

====Relations with the Arab world====
Steinmeier has visited the [[Zaatari refugee camp]] in Jordan twice to learn more about the plight of [[Refugees of the Syrian civil war|Syrians]] fleeing the violence in the ongoing [[Syrian civil war]] that erupted in 2011,<ref>[http://www.amman.diplo.de/Vertretung/amman/de/00-start/hochr_20besucher/archiv_20bis_202013/steinmeier_20mai_202013.html Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier zu Besuch in Jordanien] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122908/http://www.amman.diplo.de/Vertretung/amman/de/00-start/hochr_20besucher/archiv_20bis_202013/steinmeier_20mai_202013.html |date=4 March 2016 }} press release of 30 May 2013, German Embassy to Jordan, Amman.</ref> first in his capacity as chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in May 2013 and later as foreign minister in May 2015.<ref>Dagmar Engel (16 May 2015), [http://www.dw.com/en/german-foreign-minister-in-jordan-refugee-camp/av-18454365 German foreign minister in Jordan refugee camp] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208141225/http://www.dw.com/en/german-foreign-minister-in-jordan-refugee-camp/av-18454365 |date=8 December 2015 }} ''[[Deutsche Welle]]''.</ref> In early 2014, upon taking office as foreign minister, he agreed with Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]] and Defence Minister [[Ursula von der Leyen]] that Germany would help destroy Syria's arsenal of chemical weapons materials as part of an international disarmament program.<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/syria-crisis-weapons-germany-idUKL6N0KJ1I020140109 Germany will help dispose of Syrian chemical weapons]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''[[Reuters]]'', 9 January 2014.</ref> In October 2014, he co-chaired the Berlin Conference on the Syrian Refugee Situation along with Development Minister [[Gerd Müller (politician)|Gerd Müller]] and the [[UN High Commissioner for Refugees]], [[António Guterres]].<ref>[http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Aussenpolitik/RegionaleSchwerpunkte/NaherMittlererOsten/syriarefugeeconference/141028_Flueko.html Supporting stability in the region: Syrian Refugee Conference in Berlin] [[Federal Foreign Office (Germany)|Federal Foreign Office]], Berlin.</ref>

In March 2015, Steinmeier said he "can understand" [[Saudi Arabia]]'s decision to mount a [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen|military intervention in Yemen]] and acknowledged the operation had "support from the region". However, he said the crisis could not be solved by violence and urged a negotiated solution.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 March 2015 |title=Germany 'understands' Saudis' military action in Yemen |agency=The Journal of Turkish Weekly |url=http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/182464/germany-understands-saudis-39-military-action-in-yemen.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407033207/http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/182464/germany-understands-saudis-39-military-action-in-yemen.html |archive-date=7 April 2015}}</ref>

In February 2025, Steinmeier arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he was welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince [[Mohammed bin Salman]]. He called Saudi Arabia "a key player" in the region. During the four-day trip, he also visited Turkey and met with Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=German president travels to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-president-travels-to-saudi-arabia-jordan-turkey/a-71489677 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=3 February 2025}}</ref>

====Relations with Greece====
In 2015 Steinmeier rejected claims for [[war reparations]] from the Greek [[Syriza]] party in response to Germany's position on the [[Greek government-debt crisis]]. When incoming Greek Prime Minister [[Alexis Tsipras]], in his first major speech to parliament in early 2015, pledged to seek war reparations from Germany, Steinmeier replied to Greek Foreign Minister [[Nikos Kotzias]] that Germany was fully aware of its political and moral responsibility for the "terrible events" in Greece between 1941 and 1944 when German troops occupied the country. "Still, we are firmly convinced that all reparations issues, including forced loans, are judicially settled once-and-for-all," Steinmeier said.<ref>Michael Nienaber (10 February 2015), [https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/02/10/world/europe/10reuters-greece-germany-reparations.html Greek Foreign Minister Takes War Reparations Claim to Berlin, Gets Rebuffed] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>

====Relations with Namibia====
At the state memorial service for deceased Namibian president [[Hage Geingob]] in [[Windhoek]] on 24 February 2024, Steinmeier said that it was "high time" for Germany to "tender an apology to Namibia" for the [[Herero and Nama genocide]] from 1904 to 1908.<ref>{{Cite news |title='High time to apologise to Namibia' – German president | work=[[The Namibian]] | date=24 February 2024 |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/high-time-to-apologise-to-namibia-german-president/ | access-date=25 February 2024 }}</ref>

===Controversies===

==== Refusal to meet with Dalai Lama ====
Steinmeier openly attacked Merkel over her 2007 meeting with the [[Dalai Lama]], accusing the chancellor of "playing to public opinion" without regard for the effectiveness of the meeting in improving political or religious rights on the ground in China.<ref>Hugh Williamson (16 November 2007), [http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/facf3146-93ce-11dc-acd0-0000779fd2ac.html Beijing forces Steinbrück to cancel visit] ''[[Financial Times]]''</ref> In 2008, he refused to meet the Dalai Lama during his five-day visit, arguing that such a meeting could undermine international efforts to promote sustained contact between China and [[Tibet]].<ref>James Blitz and Hugh Williamson (20 May 2008), [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c4ef02e2-2607-11dd-b510-000077b07658.html UK visit by Dalai Lama irks China] ''[[Financial Times]]''</ref> Instead, Steinmeier issued the statement "it takes a lot of courage not to meet with the Dalai Lama these days",<ref>[https://archive.today/20120720040857/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=aVLje9i2VD1A&refer=germany Dalai Lama 'Disappointed' Germany's Steinmeier Won't Meet Him] ''[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]'' 9 May 2008</ref> which ''[[The New York Times]]'' described as "extraordinarily cynical" and accused Steinmeier of prioritizing business interests over human rights.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,553844,00.html German Minister Criticized for Planned Meeting with Dalai Lama]. ''Spiegel Online'' International. 17 May 2008</ref>

==== Murat Kurnaz torture case ====
In the case of [[Murat Kurnaz]], innocently imprisoned in 2002 and tortured by the US, Steinmeier allegedly had an offer by the [[United States Department of Defense]] and the [[CIA]] already in September 2002 regarding a transfer of Murat Kurnaz to Germany, where he was born and raised. Kurnaz had been first sold as a terror suspect in Pakistan, then imprisoned in Afghanistan and later in [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base]], Cuba, until 2006. By refusing the offer Steinmeier is thought to have been politically directly responsible for his continued imprisonment.<ref>[http://www.dradio.de/aktuell/585439/ Berlin lehnte Kurnaz-Freilassung ab], [[Deutschlandfunk]] 23. January 2007 (German).</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 April 2007 |title=Murat Kurnaz: "Fünf Jahre meines Lebens" – Report on Kurnaz and his imprisonment in Guantánamo on the occasion of the release of his book (German) |url=http://www.stern.de/politik/historie/:Murat-Kurnaz-F%FCnf-Jahre-Lebens/587452.html?p=2&postid=2 |website=stern.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An Innocent Man, Tortured by the U.S., Asks the U.N.: Where's the Accountability? |url=https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/11/11/innocent-man-tortured-u-s-asks-wheres-accountability/ |website=The Intercept|date=11 November 2014 }}</ref>

A BND-commission of enquiry was consulted.<ref>Katharina Schuler: [http://www.zeit.de/online/2007/04/Kurnaz-Untersuchungsausschuss ''„Fall Kurnaz: Kälte, Hunger, Schläge"''], [[Die Zeit]] Nr. 4/2007, 19. January 2007.</ref>

==== Armenian genocide denial ====
{{Main|Armenian Genocide denial}}

During a 2015 debate about Germany's [[Armenian genocide recognition|recognition of the Armenian genocide]] on the occasion of its [[100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide|centenary]], Steinmeier was the politician most reluctant to endorse it, mainly because of Germany's relations with [[Turkey]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/deutsch/europa/2016/05/16/steinmeier-fuerchtet-wegen-armenien-beschluss-um-beziehungen-zu-tuerkei|title=Steinmeier fürchtet wegen Armenien-Beschluss um Beziehungen zu Türkei|website=DailySabah}}</ref> He was widely criticized for his position and accused of [[Armenian genocide denial]].<ref name="HenrykBroder">{{Cite news |author=Henryk M. Broder |date=25 April 2015 |title=Völkermord: Herr Steinmeier, Sie haben von nichts eine Ahnung! |work=DIE WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/debatte/kommentare/article140082537/Herr-Steinmeier-Sie-haben-von-nichts-eine-Ahnung.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Steinmeier und der Völkermord an den Armeniern |url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/steinmeier-und-der-voelkermord-an-den-armeniern-komplexe-erinnerungen/11688918.html |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=25 April 2015 |last1=Lehming |first1=Malte }}</ref> When the German Bundestag almost unanimously approved a resolution in 2016 that recognises the killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman forces as a [[genocide]], a description that Turkey strongly rejects, Steinmeier abstained from the vote and criticized the resolution in public; Steinmeier was one of only two of the 630 members of parliament who did not support the resolution.<ref>Tulay Karadeniz and Noah Barkin (31 May 2016), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-turkey-armenia-idUSKCN0YM1RP Erdogan warns Germany ahead of Armenian genocide vote] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref> And Steinmeier alleged that calling Armenian massacres genocide risks belittling the Holocaust.<ref>[https://www.thelocal.de/20150424/gauck-germany-has-blame-for-armenian-genocide ''Steinmeier: Armenia wasn't genocide''], www.thelocal.de, 24 April 2015</ref>

====Plagiarism allegations{{anchor |plagiarism}}====
Following the [[2013 German federal election|2013 elections]], Steinmeier became the first prominent member of the Social Democrats to be confronted with allegations that he [[plagiarism|plagiarized]] parts of his 1991 doctoral dissertation about the role of the state in the prevention of homelessness.<ref name="Melissa Eddy 2013" /> Similar accusations had previously led to the resignation of two ministers of the Merkel government.<ref name="Melissa Eddy 2013" /> In response, Steinmeier rejected the charges and said that he had asked the [[University of Giessen]] to check his dissertation for unacknowledged citations.<ref name="Melissa Eddy 2013" /> In May 2013, a university committee for safeguarding academic practices found that Steinmeier had no fraudulent intent and had not committed academic misconduct in his dissertation.<ref name="DW.com-2013">{{Cite news |date=11 May 2013 |title=German university rejects plagiarism allegations against Steinmeier |work=DW.com |location=Bonn, Germany |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-university-rejects-plagiarism-allegations-against-steinmeier/a-17205123}}</ref> The committee did find "technical weaknesses" in Steinmeier's citations, but said they were not severe enough to consider revoking his degree.<ref name="DW.com-2013"/>

== Presidency (2017–present) ==

===First presidential term===
====Candidacy for President====
President [[Joachim Gauck]] announced in June 2016 that he would not run for re-election, resulting in a search for a candidate to succeed him.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Kate Connolly |date=6 June 2016 |title=Headache for Angela Merkel as German president Joachim Gauck steps down |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/06/german-president-joachim-gauck-merkel-east-german-civil-rights |access-date=7 June 2016 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> In November 2016, Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives agreed with the Social Democrats to support Steinmeier's candidacy for president in the [[2017 German presidential election|presidential election]], scheduled for 12 February 2017.<ref>Andreas Rinke and Andrea Shalal (14 November 2016), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-president-idUSKBN1390V2 Steinmeier to swap German foreign ministry for presidency] ''Reuters''.</ref>

Merkel had originally wanted to nominate Green politician [[Marianne Birthler]], and as the CDU/CSU and the Greens control a majority in the Federal Convention, Birthler's election would have been secured. However, Birthler after some time decided not to run.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Marianne Birthler gab Angela Merkel wohl einen Korb |url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/gauck-nachfolge-marianne-birthler-gab-angela-merkel-wohl-einen-korb/14862352.html |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel Online|date=18 November 2016 }}</ref>

On 12 February 2017 Germany's 16th [[Federal Convention (Germany)|Federal Convention]] elected Steinmeier President on the first ballot, with 931 votes out of a total of 1,260.

Steinmeier took office as President of Germany on 19 March 2017, after the expiration of his predecessor's term in office, and on 22 March 2017 he took the oath that newly invested presidents must take before a joint session of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, according to the Basic Law.

==== 2017 Bundestag election ====
[[File:Зустріч Президента України з Федеральним Президентом ФРН 06.jpg|thumb|Steinmeier with Ukrainian President [[Petro Poroshenko]] in Kyiv, May 2018]]
Following the [[2017 German federal election|federal election]] in September 2017, coalition talks began between the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]], [[Christian Social Union in Bavaria|Christian Social Union]], [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] and [[Alliance 90/The Greens|the Green Party]]. The talks continued for 4 weeks until just past midnight on 20 November when the Free Democrats and their leader [[Christian Lindner]] walked out of the talks and they subsequently collapsed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 November 2017 |title=Blow for Merkel as German talks collapse |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42047532 |access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref> The collapse of the talks left another [[Grand coalition (Germany)|Grand Coalition]] as the only coalition with a majority in the Bundestag; this however seemed difficult, as the Leader of the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] [[Martin Schulz]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Noack |first=Rick |date=20 November 2017 |title=Analysis: Angela Merkel has few options left to govern Germany |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/11/20/angela-merkel-has-few-options-left-to-govern-germany/ |access-date=20 November 2017 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> had ruled out another Grand Coalition on multiple occasions. 

In the following weeks, Steinmeier played an important role in the formation of the next government. This is because if the Bundestag fails to elect a chancellor in 14 days of voting,<ref>{{Cite news |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |date=20 November 2017 |title=Mögliche Szenarien: Kommen jetzt Neuwahlen? |url=https://www.faz.net/1.5300887 |access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref> the president can either appoint the individual with most votes to lead a minority government or dissolve the Bundestag and call new elections. This type of political crisis had never been seen in Germany before and pushed the president into a quite powerful position which is rare for Germany. Steinmeier declared he would not consider a dissolution of the Bundestag as a preferable solution, and managed to persuade Schulz to meet with Angela Merkel and start preliminary talks. After long coalition talks, CDU, CSU and SPD formed a new grand coalition. Merkel was re-elected in the Bundestag on 14 March 2018.{{Source needed|date=October 2023}}

====Political positions as president====
In October 2017, Steinmeier visited Putin and [[Gorbachev]] in Moscow. His visit was the first by one of his rank since 2010.<ref name="rferl17">{{cite news |title=Germany's Steinmeier Tells Putin Improving Relations 'Essential' |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-steinmeier-russia-germany-gorbachev-memorial-cathedral/28814600.html |publisher=RFE/RL |date=25 October 2017}}</ref>

As early as June 2021, an Estonian academic characterized Steinmeier's politics of Russian rapprochement as "dangerous idealism".<ref name="raik21">{{cite news |title=New World Order: Germany's Dangerous Idealism vis-à-vis Russia |last=Raik |first=Kristi |date=2021-06-24 |url=https://ip-quarterly.com/en/new-world-order-germanys-dangerous-idealism-vis-vis-russia |publisher=Internationale Politik Quarterly |access-date=2024-03-08 }}</ref>

===Second presidential term===
[[File:Prime Minister Sanna Marin met with the German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Helsinki 8.4.2022 (51990863165).jpg|thumb|Steinmeier with Finnish prime minister [[Sanna Marin]] in Helsinki, April 2022]]
On 13 February 2022 he was [[2022 German presidential election|re-elected]] as president.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-president-steinmeier-announces-run-second-term-2021-05-28/ German president Steinmeier announces run for second term] ''[[Reuters]]'', 28 May 2021.</ref>

====Ukraine controversy====
Shortly after the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Steinmeier expressed regret for his earlier stance on Russia, saying his years of support for the [[Nord Stream 2]] gas pipeline had been a clear mistake.<ref>Andreas Rinke (4 April 2022), [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/i-got-putin-wrong-says-chastened-german-president-2022-04-04/ I got Putin wrong, says chastened German President] ''[[Reuters]]''.</ref> In April 2022 he called for a [[War crimes trial|war crimes tribunal]] against Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] and Russian Foreign Minister [[Sergei Lavrov]].<ref>{{cite news |title=German president calls for war crimes tribunal against Putin, Lavrov – Spiegel |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-president-calls-war-crimes-tribunal-against-putin-lavrov-spiegel-2022-04-08/ |work=Reuters |date=8 April 2022}}</ref> Steinmeier said that he "wrongly believed that Vladimir Putin would not precipitate a complete economic, political, and moral devastation of his country because of his imperial mania."<ref>{{cite news |title=German President Is Told He Isn't Welcome in Ukraine |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news-2022-04-12/card/german-president-is-told-he-isn-t-welcome-in-ukraine-frQQduYTCR8yY5uvaQtl |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=12 April 2022}}</ref>

In April 2022, Steinmeier abandoned plans to visit Kyiv after admitting he would not be welcome in Ukraine in what was seen as a serious snub for one of Germany's most senior politicians. At the time, German news media cited Ukrainian officials as saying that the Ukrainian president [[Volodymyr Zelensky]] would refuse to meet Steinmeier if he came to Kyiv.<ref>{{cite news |title=German president scraps Ukraine visit after admitting he would not be welcome |first=Guy |last=Chazan |date=2022-04-12 |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/eac064fe-713a-4a4d-ab70-e9cba835c355 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-03-08 }}</ref>{{cn |date=March 2024}} Ukraine had previously criticized Steinmeier for his connections to Russia and his role in strengthening German-Russian relations under the ''[[Wandel durch Handel|Change through Trade]]'' ({{langr|de|Wandel durch Handel}}) policy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Ukraine rejects official visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier |url=https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-rejects-official-visit-by-german-president-frank-walter-steinmeier/a-61447160 |access-date=12 April 2022 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

On 25 October 2022, Steinmeier made an official visit to Ukraine, after a scheduled visit on 20 October was cancelled for security reasons due to [[October 2022 missile strikes on Ukraine|a wave of cruise missile and drone attacks across Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-german-president-frank-walter-steinmeier-arrives-in-kyiv/a-63543018 |title=Ukraine: German President Steinmeier arrives in Kyiv |website=Deutsche Welle |date=25 October 2022 |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="Ukraine-2022">{{cite news |title=Ukraine: German President Steinmeier arrives in Kyiv |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4QOOqbaBsg |publisher=DW News |date=25 October 2022}}</ref><ref name="tfp">{{cite news |last1=FIEDLER |first1=TRISTAN |title=German President Steinmeier arrives in Kyiv (at last) |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/frank-walter-steinmeier-ukraine-war-kyiv-visit-german-president/ |publisher=Politico |date=25 October 2022}}</ref> At the time, [[DW News]] was talking about a new €350-billion [[Marshall Plan]] to aid Ukraine even while Russian bombs were still falling from Kyiv skies.<ref name="Ukraine-2022"/> Upon his return to Berlin he spoke at length of his Ukrainian experiences on 28 October, and opened with vivid descriptions of the horrors of war, noting that it had caused "the deepest crisis" that a reunified Germany has seen. He warned that "tougher, rough years are ahead of us."<ref name="pgdw">{{cite news |last1=Gayle |first1=Phil |title=German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier calls for unity in face of crisis |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzBSEabEqsA |publisher=DW News |date=28 October 2022}}</ref>

On 29 November 2022 Steinmeier was interviewed again on this subject by a journalist from [[Deutsche Welle]] at his [[Bellevue Palace, Germany|official residence]].<ref name="nov29dw" /> While opining that it is too early to talk about security guarantees for Ukraine, he condemned Russia's recent attacks on civilians and on gas and electricity supplies in Ukraine, saying,<ref name="nov29dw">{{cite news |title=Steinmeier: 'A cease-fire now would mean Russia would keep the territories it has occupied' |date=2022-11-29 |work=DW News |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdj7NoZhhZ0 |access-date=2024-03-08 |via=YouTube }}</ref>
{{blockquote |text=A cease-fire now would mean Russia would keep the territories it has occupied. It is also reckless to suggest a cease-fire now, because to establish a cease-fire at this point in time would essentially condone all of the injustice that has already taken place.}}

====Polish relations====
On behalf of the FRG on the anniversary date 1 August 2024 Steinmeier expressed contrition to the survivors of the WW2 [[Warsaw Uprising]]. He said plans were afoot for a monument in Berlin dedicated to the Polish victims of [[Nazi Germany]].<ref name="ftv1">{{cite news |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/seconde-guerre-mondiale/le-president-allemand-demande-pardon-aux-anciens-combattants-de-l-insurrection-de-varsovie_6700068.html |title=Le président allemand demande "pardon" aux anciens combattants de l'insurrection de Varsovie }}</ref>

===Presidential visits to foreign countries===
{{main|List of presidential trips made by Frank-Walter Steinmeier}}

==Other activities==
* [[Deutscher Koordinierungsrat der Gesellschaften für Christlich-Jüdische Zusammenarbeit|German Coordinating-Council for Christian-Jewish Cooperation Organizations]], member of the board (2009–2013)
* [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES), member<ref>[https://www.fes.de/stiftung/organigramm-gremien/mitgliederversammlung/ Members] [[Friedrich Ebert Foundation]] (FES).</ref>
* [[German Protestant Church Assembly]], member of the board
* [[German Protestant Institute|German Protestant Institute of Archaeology]], member of the board
* International Journalists' Programmes, member of the board of trustees 
* Peace of Westphalia Prize, member of the jury<ref name="Wirtschaftliche Gesellschaft">{{Cite web |title=Jury |url=https://www.wirtschaftliche-gesellschaft.de/int-preis-des-westfaelischen-friedens/jury/ |access-date=21 July 2018 |website=Wirtschaftliche Gesellschaft |language=de |archive-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721162220/https://www.wirtschaftliche-gesellschaft.de/int-preis-des-westfaelischen-friedens/jury/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Rudolf Pichlmayr Foundation for Organ Transplantation, member of the board<ref name="Software">{{Cite web |title=Rudolf Pichlmayr Stiftung |url=http://pichlmayr-stiftung.de/ |access-date=21 July 2018 |website=Pichlmayr Stiftung |language=de}}</ref>
* [[Aktion Deutschland Hilft]] (Germany's Relief Coalition), member of the board of trustees (−2017)<ref name="Aktion Deutschland Hilft">{{Cite web |title=Sigmar Gabriel übernimmt Vorsitz im Kuratorium von "Aktion Deutschland Hilft" |url=https://www.aktion-deutschland-hilft.de/de/fachthemen/news/sigmar-gabriel-uebernimmt-vorsitz-im-kuratorium-von-aktion-deutschland-hilft/ |access-date=21 July 2018 |website=Aktion Deutschland Hilft |language=de}}</ref>
* [[Alexander von Humboldt Foundation]], ex-officio member of the board of trustees (−2017)
* [[KfW]], ex-officio member of the supervisory board (−2017)

==Recognition==
===Honorary appointment===
* Honorary doctorate of the [[Ural State Technical University]], Russia (2010)
* [[Willy Brandt Prize]] (2013)
* [[Honorary citizenship|Honorary citizen]] of [[Reims]] (2015)<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 November 2015 |title=D-Frankreich-Diplomatie: Steinmeier weiht neue Kathedralenfenster in Reims ein – WELT |work=DIE WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/newsticker/news1/article140761942/Steinmeier-weiht-neue-Kathedralenfenster-in-Reims-ein.html |access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
* Honorary doctorate of the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]] (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 November 2015 |title=German Foreign Minister Steinmeier to Receive Honorary Doctorate from Hebrew University of Jerusalem |url=http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/26662 |access-date=25 May 2017 |website=The Hebrew University of Jerusalem}}</ref>
* Honorary doctorate of the [[University of Piraeus]], Greece (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 October 2015 |title=Foreign Minister Kotzias to meet with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Athens, 29 October 2015) – Meetings – Events |url=http://www.mfa.gr/en/current-affairs/news-announcements/foreign-minister-kotzias-to-meet-with-german-foreign-minister-frank-walter-steinmeier-athens-29-october-2015.html |access-date=25 May 2017 |website=mfa.gr |language=en}}</ref>
* Honorary doctorate of the [[University of Paderborn]] (2016)<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 December 2016 |title=Universität Paderborn ernennt Steinmeier zum Ehrendoktor – WELT |url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/nrw/article160449599/Universitaet-Paderborn-ernennt-Steinmeier-zum-Ehrendoktor.html |access-date=25 May 2017 |website=DIE WELT}}</ref>
* [[Toleranzpreis der Evangelischen Akademie Tutzing]] (2016)
* [[Ignatz Bubis|Ignatz Bubis Award]] (2017)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Von Georg |first=Leppert |date=10 January 2017 |title=Bubis-Preis: Frankfurt ehrt Steinmeier |language=de |work=Frankfurter Rundschau |url=http://www.fr.de/frankfurt/bubis-preis-frankfurt-ehrt-steinmeier-a-737799 |access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
* [[World Food Programme|World Food Programme's Hunger Hero Award]] (2017)<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 January 2017 |title=Deutsche Rekordhilfen für WFP 2016 sichern Millionen Syrern das Überleben und investieren in eine Welt ohne Hunger |language=de |work=UN World Food Programme |url=http://de.wfp.org/neuigkeiten/pressemitteilungen/deutsche-rekordhilfen-fuer-wfp-2016-sichern-millionen-syrern-ueberleben |access-date=25 May 2017 |archive-date=1 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015605/http://de.wfp.org/neuigkeiten/pressemitteilungen/deutsche-rekordhilfen-fuer-wfp-2016-sichern-millionen-syrern-ueberleben |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Honorary doctorate of the [[Lebanese University]] (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Speech: Visit at the Lebanese University |url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Reden/EN/Frank-Walter-Steinmeier/Reden/2018/01/20180130-Lebanon-Beirut-University.html |access-date=15 June 2023 |website=Der Bundespräsident |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Leo Baeck Medal]] (2021)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Reden/DE/Frank-Walter-Steinmeier/Reden/2021/11/211118-Leo-Baeck-Medaille.html|title=www.bundespraesident.de: Der Bundespräsident / Reden / Verleihung der Leo-Baeck-Medaille an den Bundespräsidenten}}</ref>
* [[Henry A. Kissinger Prize]] (2022)<ref name="Roßmann 2022">{{cite web | last=Roßmann | first=Robert | title=Steinmeier warnt vor China: "Wir müssen uns schützen" | website=Süddeutsche.de | date=17 November 2022 | url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bundespraesident-steinmeier-kissinger-preis-new-york-china-1.5697477 | language=de | access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="Jay 2022">{{cite web | last=Jay | first=R. | title=President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Receives the Henry A. Kissinger Prize | website=American Academy | date=10 November 2022 | url=https://www.americanacademy.de/president-frank-walter-steinmeier-to-receive-the-henry-a-kissinger-prize/ | access-date=17 November 2022}}</ref>

==Honours==

===National honours===
* [[File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 9 Sond des Grosskreuzes.svg|55px]] Grand Master of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]] (19 March 2017 – Present)
*[[File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 9 Sond des Grosskreuzes.svg|55px]] Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (19 March 2017)

=== Foreign honours ===
*{{flag|Austria}}: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of the [[Order of Merit of the Austrian Republic]] (23 April 2016)
* {{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]] (5 December 2023)
* {{flag|Bulgaria}}: First Class of the [[Order of Stara Planina]] (20 September 2007)<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://media.gettyimages.com/id/76904232/photo/bulgarian-president-georgi-parvanov.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=fnDzaJ4T4Z6SkoxLUiZrZpVmTrn4X7RvxLESRDHDg1M=|date=20 September 2007|title=Frank-Walter Steinmeier receiving the Order of Stara Planina from the President of Bulgaria|website=[[Getty Images]]}}</ref>
*{{flag|Cyprus}}: Grand Collar of the [[Order of Makarios III]] (12 February 2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/german-president-steinmeier-welcomed-by-president-christodoulides|title=German President Steinmeier welcomed by President Christodoulides|date=12 February 2024|website=knews.kathimerini.com}}</ref>
*{{flag|Denmark}}: Knight of the [[Order of the Elephant]] (10 November 2021)
*{{flag|Ecuador}}: Grand Collar of the [[National Order of Merit (Ecuador)|National Order of Merit]] (13 February 2019)<ref>{{Cite web |title=bundespraesident.de: Der Bundespräsident / Startseite |url=http://www.bundespraesident.de/DE/Home/home_node.html |website=bundespraesident.de}}</ref>
*{{flag|France}}: Grand Officer of the [[Legion of Honour|National Order of Legion of Honour]] (26 January 2017)
*{{flag|Finland}}: Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the White Rose of Finland]] (17 September 2018)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunnan suurristin ketjuineen ulkomaalaiset saajat |url=http://www.ritarikunnat.fi/index.php/fi/ritarikunnat/rekisterit/216-suomen-valkoisen-ruusun-ritarikunnan-suurristin-ketjuineen-saajat-ulkomaalaiset/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904154004/http://www.ritarikunnat.fi/index.php/fi/ritarikunnat/rekisterit/216-suomen-valkoisen-ruusun-ritarikunnan-suurristin-ketjuineen-saajat-ulkomaalaiset |archive-date=4 September 2019 |access-date=31 January 2019 |website=ritarikunnat.fi}}</ref>
*{{flag|Iceland}}: Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the Falcon]] (12 June 2019)
*{{flag|Italy}}:
** Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] (17 September 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/360243|title=Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana|website=Quirinale}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/36766|title=Visita di Stato del Presidente della Repubblica Federale di Germania|publisher=Segretariato generale della Presidenza della Repubblica-Servizio sistemi|website=Quirinale}}</ref>
** Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] (21 March 2006)
*{{flag|Latvia}}: Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the [[Order of the Three Stars]] (19 February 2019)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Par Triju Zvaigžņu ordeņa piešķiršanu – Latvijas Vēstnesis |url=https://www.vestnesis.lv/ |website=vestnesis.lv}}</ref>
*{{flag|Luxembourg}}: Knight of the [[Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau]] (10 July 2023)
*{{flag|Netherlands}}: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]] (5 July 2021)
*{{flag|Norway}}: Grand Cross of the [[Royal Norwegian Order of Merit]] (15 October 2007)
*{{flag|Portugal}}:
** Grand Collar of the [[Order of Prince Henry]] (1 March 2018)
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of Merit (Portugal)|Order of Merit]] (2 March 2009)
*{{flag|Romania}}: Collar of the [[Order of the Star of Romania]] (24 May 2023)
*{{flag|Slovakia}}: Grand Cross or (1st Class) of the [[Order of the White Double Cross]] (17 November 2017)
*{{flag|Slovenia}}: Member of the [[Order for Exceptional Merits (Slovenia)|Order for Exceptional Merits]] (13 October 2022)
*{{flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}: Collar of the [[Order pro Merito Melitensi]] (21 October 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orderofmalta.int/it/|title=Sovrano Ordine di Malta – Sito ufficiale|website=Order of Malta}}</ref>
*{{flag|Spain}}: Knight of the Collar of the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]] (11 October 2022)<ref>[https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2022/10/12/pdfs/BOE-A-2022-16654.pdf Boletín Oficial del Estado]</ref>
*{{flag|Sweden}}: Knight of the [[Royal Order of the Seraphim]] (7 September 2021)
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable [[Order of the Bath]] (29 March 2023)

==See also==
*[[List of foreign ministers in 2017]]

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links |wikt=no |c= yes |n= no |s=no |b=no |v=no}}
* [http://quotes.euronews.com/people/frank-walter-steinmeier-3JqgVnWz Quotes by Frank-Walter Steinmeier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827095615/http://quotes.euronews.com/people/frank-walter-steinmeier-3JqgVnWz |date=27 August 2017 }}
* {{in lang|de}} [http://www.frank-walter-steinmeier.de/ Steinmeier's campaign website for the 2009 general election in Germany]

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