Biden and Merkel want some time to “rebuild their much-needed relationship”

Time counts down as the president Joe Biden will welcome the German Chancellor later today Angela Merkel in the White House with both wanting to restore their bilateral relations that had been damaged during the presidency of Donald Trump. The United States and Germany are important NATO allies, but they disagree on a number of issues, including the pipeline. Nord Stream 2, which unites Russia with Germany below the Baltic and which, as Washington fears, will increase Europe ‘s dependence on Russian gas, the APE reports.

The United States and Germany also disagree on whether it is appropriate to work with China on business agreements, to continue travel restrictions on the United States from Europe, and on Germany’s refusal to support Biden’s proposal for a temporary patent waiver. of coronavirus vaccines with the aim of accelerating their production. The 78-year-old Biden and the 66-year-old Merkel however, they agree on a number of broader issues.

They are likely to discuss cooperation to address threats to democracy around the world, as well as Russian cyber-attacks and territorial aggression in Eastern Europe and China’s efforts to dominate high-tech, according to officials. of both governments. The same sources say that the issue of ending the pandemic and tackling climate change will be discussed.

But the two leaders do not have much time to work together to strengthen ties between their countries – the world’s largest economy and the fourth largest. Merkel, who has been chancellor since 2005, plans to step down after the September parliamentary elections, meaning she may be considered powerless in recent months. Polls suggest her Christian Democrats are expected to take the lead in forming a government after the election, but it remains unclear which parties will join a coalition.

Biden’s Democratic Party has a weak majority in the US Congress, which could be lost in the 2022 congressional elections. John Emerson, who served as ambassador to Germany under Barack Obama, says the relationship remains essential for Washington. given the role of Germany as the largest economy in Europe and the fact that it is an ally of NATO but also that it operates by building bridges to Russia, the Middle East and North Africa. Germany hosts about 36,000 US troops on its territory.

Redress

Merkel’s visit to the White House –-the first European leader since Biden took over the presidency in January-– shows that the US is trying to retaliate against an ally who was often attacked during the Trump presidency. “The invitation to Merkel is symbolically important, but it is also an opportunity to get the relationship back on track and that is clearly the case,” Emerson said.

Merkel’s current program includes a breakfast with US Vice President Kamala Harris, a private meeting with President Biden and a dinner hosted by the presidential couple at the White House. The German chancellor will also receive an honorary diploma from the Advanced International Studies Department of Johns Hopkins University and will then make statements. Peter Bager, Germany’s transatlantic co-ordinator, says Germans are aware of the limited time available to make progress in relations between the two countries, as Biden is likely to be weakened after the 2022 election.

Merkel is likely to advise Biden on what to expect from the next German government, says Jackson Janes, a member of the German Marshall Fund in the United States. “I think it will be logical: ‘Thank you for the memories’ and maybe something more about what Biden should think when he faces the next Berlin government,” he said, referring to the possible message of Merkel’s visit.