Merkel Holds Final US-Germany Summit at White House Before Autumn Retirement
Restores Alliance Strained Under Trump, Pledges Joint Response to China and Russia
Biden Hosts Dinner for Merkel, Showing Warm Hospitality
Differences Emerge Over 'Nord Stream 2' Pipeline Project... Varied Approaches to China Containment
U.S. President Joe Biden (right) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] U.S. President Joe Biden held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House. Merkel, who has been in power for 16 years and has dealt with four U.S. presidents, reaffirmed the bond between the two countries and declared cooperation on China during her final visit to the U.S. before stepping down this fall.
Analysts say that the previously chilly relations between the two countries, which had clashed over trade and security issues during the Donald Trump administration, have laid the groundwork for restoring the alliance through this meeting.
According to the New York Times (NYT) and the Washington Post (WP) on the 15th (local time), after concluding the summit at the White House, President Biden and Chancellor Merkel declared in a joint press conference that they would strengthen ties and cooperate to counter China and Russia.
"We will stand together to defend democracy... also establish a partnership to address climate change"
At the press conference, President Biden said, "We will cooperate and jointly respond with Germany to Russia's hostile actions to protect NATO allies."
He then mentioned China, emphasizing, "The two countries will stand together to defend democratic values."
President Biden also added, "We have an alliance to address issues such as democratic backsliding, corruption, and populism."
During the talks, the two countries agreed to promote a U.S.-Germany climate and energy partnership to jointly address climate change. They committed to jointly uphold the Paris Agreement goal of limiting temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius before 2030.
To promote this climate cooperation, they will establish a permanent dialogue channel between the two countries, involving the U.S. climate envoy, the Departments of Energy and State, and Germany’s Ministries of Economic Affairs and Energy, Environment, Foreign Affairs, and other relevant agencies.
Differences exposed over Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project... also some divergence on China policy
However, some disagreements between the two countries emerged during the meeting on certain issues.
The biggest difference was over the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project. This pipeline, under construction to deliver Russian natural gas directly to Germany, is considered a major cooperative project between Germany and Russia.
The Biden administration has expressed concerns that completion of the pipeline would increase Germany's dependence on Russian energy and expand Russia's influence. Additionally, since the existing pipelines pass through Ukraine, the new project would allow Russia to bypass Ukraine, potentially deepening Ukraine's isolation.
However, Germany intends to proceed with the project, which is about 90% complete. Germany relies on imports for 92% of its natural gas, and if the pipeline project fails, the German economy would suffer a significant blow.
President Biden said, "I conveyed my concerns about the Nord Stream project to Chancellor Merkel," adding, "Both Merkel and I agreed that we will not tolerate Russia using its energy as a weapon to threaten other countries."
Chancellor Merkel, mindful of Biden's concerns, said, "I still consider Ukraine a transit country for natural gas pipelines. Ukraine, like other countries, has territorial sovereignty."
Chinese President Xi Jinping (top right) is holding a video conference in Beijing on the 5th (local time) with French President Emmanuel Macron (top left) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (bottom left). [Image source=Yonhap News]
There were also some differences in approach toward China. While the U.S. is pushing for stronger cooperation to counter China, Germany is considering its economic ties with China and does not intend to be unilaterally led by U.S. pressure on China.
Reflecting this atmosphere, Chancellor Merkel did not directly mention China containment at the press conference. She said, "We share a common understanding that we compete with China in many areas," and added, "Trade with China must be conducted on the premise of a fair trade environment for all of us."
Additionally, the issue of waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, discussed during the meeting, also revealed differences between the two countries. President Biden is pushing to expand vaccine production through IP waivers, but Chancellor Merkel opposes waiving intellectual property rights.
On the 14th (local time), one day before the US-Germany summit, protesters dressed as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Joe Biden are holding a demonstration in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the capital of Germany, demanding the waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]
Germany's stance is understood to be motivated by the fact that the pharmaceutical company jointly developing the Pfizer vaccine is a German firm, and Germany aims to protect its intellectual property containing its technological expertise.
As a result, it is reported that no agreement was reached on vaccine IP waivers during the meeting.
Besides this, the two leaders discussed COVID-19 response measures, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the restoration of the Iran nuclear deal negotiations, and joint responses to ransomware attacks.
Foreign media: "A day showing that the U.S.-Europe alliance is back"
Foreign media evaluated that the meeting focused on restoring the traditional alliance and laid the groundwork for strengthening transatlantic ties.
The WP said, "Except for some disagreements, this meeting symbolically showed that the U.S.-Europe alliance is back," and added, "It was a day that highlighted the Biden administration's efforts to discard Trump's America First policy."
Even before the meeting, a friendly atmosphere was created between the two leaders. President Biden, meeting Chancellor Merkel at the White House before the talks, emphasized, "The cooperation between the U.S. and Germany is strong and I hope it continues. I am confident it will."
Chancellor Merkel responded, "I want to express how much I value the friendship with the U.S.," and said, "I very much look forward to deepening our relationship through today's talks."
With this friendly atmosphere between the two leaders, foreign media have commented on the stark contrast compared to the Trump administration. The fact that Chancellor Merkel was the first European leader invited to the White House after Biden took office is also seen as an indication that the U.S. government prioritizes restoring the alliance with Germany.
Previously, former President Trump, promoting America First, neglected the Atlantic alliance and had a poor relationship with Chancellor Merkel. Trump pressured European countries, including Germany, to increase defense spending and pushed to reduce U.S. troops in Germany by about one-third.
In particular, the uncomfortable atmosphere between Trump and Merkel at the 2018 G7 summit was a representative scene showing the cooled relations between the two countries.
At that meeting, Trump was seated surrounded by leaders, while Merkel pressed down firmly on the table with both hands, seemingly urging Trump to make a decision.
However, since Biden's inauguration, which emphasized discarding America First and restoring alliances with democratic countries, the atmosphere between the two countries has clearly changed.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany John Emerson said about the meeting, "Biden inviting Merkel directly to the White House is an important symbol," adding, "It is an opportunity to restore relations, and the restoration is actually happening."
Additionally, Biden hosting a dinner for Merkel after the summit is seen as a sign of special treatment. Merkel is the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House and hosted for dinner since Biden took office.
On the morning of the 15th (local time), Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, received an honorary doctorate at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, USA, ahead of the US-Germany summit. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
Earlier that day, Chancellor Merkel also had breakfast with Vice President Kamala Harris. It is known that this was the first time Vice President Harris hosted a foreign leader at the residence, so the breakfast was also interpreted as a gesture of respect toward Merkel.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Merkel is expected to step down after the September general election, ending her 16-year tenure as chancellor. This meeting was her last visit to the White House.
During her time in office, Merkel visited the U.S. nearly 20 times and the White House 11 times while dealing with four U.S. presidents.
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