display
Berlin (dpa) - After the swearing-in of US President Joe Biden, the federal government is hoping to revive the badly damaged relationship with its most important ally outside Europe.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) said he was relieved on Wednesday about the change in power in the White House after Donald Trump's four years in which German-American relations plunged into the worst crisis of the post-war period.
"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 back under control. "
display
Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer promised the new US 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 leeway, “we have to invest more, not less, in our security,” emphasized Kramp-Karrenbauer.
Concrete contributions are now required 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 with the USA before the swearing-in ceremony.
“We look forward to having the USA at our side again in the 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 matters of security, including arms control and disarmament in many urgent conflicts around the world, "said Steinmeier in a video message.
display
At the same time, Steinmeier assured: "Even where we will not agree, differences of opinion will not separate us, but will allow us to search all the more intensively for common solutions."
He hopes to see Biden and his Vice-President Kamala Harris soon in Germany.
CSU boss Markus Söder tweeted: “The transatlantic bridge is being rebuilt.
We have to push aside the rubble that Trump has caused. "
SPD leader Norbert Walter-Borjans spoke of a "new chapter" for the Americans, but also in transatlantic relations.
"Now is the time to look forward together," he told the German press agency.
The Green Group chairmen Katrin Göring-Eckardt and Anton Hofreiter spoke of a “good day for democracy”.
Trump had not treated Germany like an ally, but like an opponent, whom he named in the same breath as China and Russia and even dealt with sanctions.
The main points of contention included defense spending, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, and the German trade surplus.
They won't go away with Biden either, but the federal government hopes that the way we deal with one another will change significantly.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210120-99-107550 / 2