NAfter the swearing-in of American President Joe Biden, the German government hopes to revive the severely damaged relationship with its most important ally outside Europe. “I’m looking forward to a new chapter in German-American friendship and cooperation,” said Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), according to a message from government spokesman Steffen Seibert on Twitter. The inauguration of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris was a “celebration of American democracy”.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) was also relieved on Wednesday about the change in power in the White House after Donald Trump had spent four years in which German-American relations had plunged into the worst post-war crisis. “In the last four years we have seen what” America first “meant: no vote, no consultations,” said Maas on ZDF. Joe Biden wants to change that. “I am very happy that the time has finally come again. Because we need the United States to face major challenges, to really get the crises of this time under control again. “
Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer promised the new president that Germany would be more involved in security policy. “The new American government will also hold us Germans responsible,” said the CDU politician. “We and our European partners, America’s allies, must take self-confident steps to strengthen transatlantic security.” Even if the corona pandemic narrows the scope, “we have to invest more, not less, in our security,” emphasized Kramp-Karrenbauer. It now depends on concrete contributions so that Europe can better protect itself and become a stronger ally of America. “The future of our security policy begins now. Let’s take the chance. “
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had already expressed the hope of closer cooperation before the swearing-in ceremony. “We look forward to having the USA at our side again in future as an indispensable partner in many questions: in the joint and solidarity-based fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, in global climate protection, in security issues, including arms control and disarmament in many urgent conflicts around the world, ”Steinmeier said in a video message. Steinmeier assured at the same time: “Even where we will not agree, differences of opinion will not separate us, but let us search all the more intensively for common solutions.” He hopes to be able to welcome Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to Germany soon.
“Welcome back to the Paris Climate Agreement!”
Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz also congratulated Biden and Harris. Europe and the United States share common values and a strong transatlantic partnership is crucial to address global challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change, Kurz wrote on Twitter.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also sees America and its new leadership as an important partner in the face of these challenges. Johnson is looking forward to this “historic inauguration” to work with Biden and Harris, said the Prime Minister on the short message service.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte made a similar statement. The significance of this day extends well beyond the borders of the United States, wrote Conte. Likewise, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and the Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga combined their congratulations with the hope of close cooperation based on shared values.
“Best wishes on the most important day for the American people,” said French President Emmanuel Macron to the President and his deputy. It will be stronger to master the challenges of this time together. Macron closed his tweet with the sentence: “Welcome back to the Paris climate agreement!” Biden had announced that he would rejoin the contract on the day he was inaugurated. Trump announced in June 2017 that the United States would withdraw from the agreement, and on November 4, 2020 – the day of the presidential election – America left the treaty.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement that the United States and Canada are more than neighbors – they are close friends, partners and allies. Trudeau said he is excited to work with Biden and Harris to make the two countries safer, more prosperous and more resilient.
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