display
Berlin (AP) - After the swearing-in of US President Joe Biden, the federal government wants to revive the badly 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 by the change in power in the White House after Donald Trump had been in power for four years, during 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 now.
«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.
"We and our European partners, America's allies, must take self-confident steps to strengthen transatlantic security," said the CDU politician.
Even if the corona pandemic narrows the scope, “we have to invest more, not less, in our security”.
Concrete contributions are now required so that Europe can better protect itself and become a stronger ally of America.
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.
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 called on people to “look ahead together”.
With Biden, the Greens hope for a new start in global disarmament efforts.
"With the new US administration there is finally hope that things can go ahead," said party leader Annalena Baerbock of the dpa.
display
German-American relations plummeted to a low point in the Trump era.
The US president, who resigned on Wednesday after four years, treated Germany not 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.
But they won't go away with Biden either.
In the federal government, however, one hopes that the way we deal with one another will change significantly.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210121-99-110157 / 3