Peter Wittig

Peter Wittig studied history, political science, and law in Germany and Britain and taught at Freiburg before entering diplomacy in 1982. His early work included Madrid, the German mission to the United Nations, and service as private secretary to the foreign minister. He later represented Germany in Lebanon and Cyprus, also acting as his government’s special envoy on the island’s division. ¹

Wittig directed United Nations and global affairs at the Foreign Office and then served as ambassador to the UN, representing Germany on the Security Council during its 2011–2012 membership. He moved to Washington in 2014. ¹

In May 2015, Wittig appeared with the French and British ambassadors at the Atlantic Council to explain the emerging nuclear agreement with Iran. He emphasized detailed limits and intrusive verification, acknowledged the costs sanctions had imposed on German businesses, and insisted that the negotiators would reject an unsatisfactory agreement. He also warned that congressional obstruction could weaken international support for the sanctions system. ²