Rudolf Sharping is a German politician and served as Federal Minister of Defence from 1998 to 2002.
Previously he served as Minister President of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate from 1991 to 1994, and national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) from 1993 to 1995. From March 1995 to May 2001 he was chairman of the Party of European Socialists (PES).