Farewell visit to Washington: A short, close friendship


As of: 07/16/2021 1:26 a.m.

Germany and the USA want to be closer partners again in the future – in climate protection, in security policy, in the fight against injustice. Chancellor Merkel and US President Biden showed clear sympathy at their meeting.

Angela Merkel’s chancellorship is “historic,” said US President Joe Biden. She is the first female Chancellor in Germany and the first from the former GDR. After the Washington meeting, Biden didn’t spare praise. He spoke of “groundbreaking merits” for their country and for the world. Merkel always stood up for the right thing and defended human dignity.

A completely different tone than that of his predecessor Donald Trump. In future, German-American relations should again be characterized by community and cooperation. “I know that the partnership between Germany and the United States will grow even stronger on the foundation that you helped to build,” said Biden. He will even miss her at the summit.

Merkel is the first head of government from Europe to have welcomed Biden to the White House since he took office on January 20. The Chancellor had arrived in Washington the day before on her farewell visit. The visit was meant to be a fresh start after the Trump era.

Cooperation also on climate protection

And so the President and the Chancellor committed themselves to democratic principles and values, which should be the basis of relations. Injustice and inequality should be combated and open societies defended, according to a joint statement.

Other topics of the talks included relations with China and Russia and climate policy. According to Merkel, Germany and the USA decided on an energy and climate partnership. This is an important sign, said the Chancellor. It is about the expansion of future-proof technologies such as hydrogen or renewable energies. “Here we are in competition with others in the world, and we want to survive this competition successfully.” Merkel said she was happy that the US had returned to the Paris climate agreement.

Joint warning to Russia

There are also still discrepancies, including with the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The project has been causing tension between Berlin and Washington for years. Biden is extremely critical of the project. The US feared a greater dependence of Europe on Russian gas and economic damage for the traditional transit countries for Russian gas, above all for Ukraine.

Nevertheless, at their meeting, Merkel and Biden showed a common line with a view to Russia. Biden warned Moscow against using energy exports as a weapon. That “must not be allowed,” he said. The Chancellor “and I fully share this conviction”. With regard to Nord Stream 2 “we have different assessments,” Merkel admitted for her part. But “Ukraine remains a transit country for natural gas”. Germany will “act actively” if Russia does not respect this right.

Review of the corona entry restrictions

And Merkel Biden made another promise: The current entry restrictions for people from Germany and other European Schengen states are to be checked, announced the US President. Merkel raised the issue, said Biden. How soon the travel restrictions can be lifted is currently being discussed. “I’m waiting to hear from our people on our Covid team when this should happen.”

Merkel said she had exchanged ideas with Biden about the delta variant of the corona virus. That is a new challenge. A sustainable decision must now be made that will not be taken back after a short time. The EU had already urged member states last month to gradually lift restrictions on travelers from the US and several other countries. Germany then allowed entries from the USA, among others, “for all permitted purposes of residence, including tourism”. In the opposite direction, i.e. for entry into the USA, strict requirements still apply.

Condolences for the flood victims in Germany

The meeting was overshadowed by the flood disaster in Germany. Biden expressed his condolences to Merkel in view of the many deaths. “It is a tragedy and our hearts are with the families who have lost loved ones,” said the US president.

Merkel promised help to the people affected in the flood areas. “I can tell people: we will not leave them alone in difficult, terrible hours. We will also help when it comes to reconstruction,” said the Chancellor. “The number of extraordinary weather events has increased dramatically,” she adds. That is why the world must act.

Tobias Reckmann, ARD Washington, on friendship and conflict between Germany and the USA

night magazine 00:53, July 16, 2021



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