Washington: President Joe Biden welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the White House on Thursday to discuss disputes over Russia and China when the two leaders tried to strengthen the relationship that suffered under former President Donald Trump.
The United States and Germany are NATO’s main allies.
Biden and Merkel have been known and worked with each other for years.
But their two governments disagreed over a number of difficult problems, including the Nord Stream 2 pipeline built from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, which was feared Washington would hurt Ukraine and increased European dependence on Russian gas.
They also did not agree on the wisdom of partnering with China on business projects, restrictions on trips to the United States from Europe and the German opposition to temporary reduction in patents aimed at accelerating the production of Covid-19 vaccine.
Biden, 78 and Merkel, 66, looked at the eyes to oversee a wider range of problems, and both wanted to strengthen the transatlantic relationship that suffered under Trump, by whipping the ally of the US close.
“Cooperation between the United States and Germany is strong and we hope to continue that, and I am sure that we will,” said Biden at the beginning of their meeting at the Oval office.
“I appreciate friendship,” said Merkel, noting the role of the US in building free and democratic Germany.
They are likely to discuss threats to democracy throughout the world, against Cyberattack and Russian territorial aggression in Eastern Europe and China’s encouragement to dominate sophisticated technology, officials said in both governments.
Ending the climate change of the pandemic and curbing also on the agenda.
Both leaders do not have much time to work together on strengthening the bond between the fourth and fourth largest economy in the world.
Merkel, Chancellor since 2005, plans to get out of the German government after the national election in September, which means he is likely to be seen as a “paralyzed duck” in the past months in power.
Polling shows that Christian Democrats are ready to lead in forming government after elections, but still unclearly which parties will be included in the coalition.
The Democrat Party Biden has a majority of tenuous in the US Congress who can evaporate in the election of the 2022 Congress.
John Emerson, who served as German ambassador under former President Barack Obama, said the relationship was still “very necessary” for Washington given the role of Germany as the biggest economy Europe and NATO allies, and importance as bridge builders in dealing with Russia, the Middle East and North Africa.
Germany accommodated around 36,000 US troops on his land.
Making Amanded Merkel started his official day in Washington at breakfast with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris spokesman Symone Sanders said the two leaders discussed the threat and geopolitical challenges.
They promised to continue working together on pandemics, global health and the environment, said Sanders.
“We can really work very well to increase our shared values,” Merkel said.
Then Merkel will attend one-on-one meeting with Biden, a press conference with the president and dinner held by Badens in the White House in the White House.
He also received an honorary degree from the Advanced International Study School at Johns Hopkins University.
The visit of the Merkel White House – the first by European leaders since Biden served in January – showed tonsils with allies.
It is often attacked during the years of Trump.
“Inviting it to come it’s symbolically important, but it is also an opportunity to get a back relationship on the right track, and it clearly happens,” Emerson said.
German Transatlantic Coordinator, Peter Beyer, said Germany was aware that there was only limited time to move forward, given the risk that Biden could weaken after the 2022 congress election.
Merkel could suggest Biden about what was expected in the next German government, said Jackson Janes, a senior colleague in the United States Marshall funds.
“I think it would be a feeling of saying: ‘Thank you for his memory,’ and maybe a little more about what to think (Biden) when he deals with the next government in Berlin,” he said about Merkel’s message likely on his way.