Angela Merkel received by Joe Biden for a friendly farewell, but in mourning
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was received by Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday July 15, 2021. REUTERS - TOM BRENNER
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The two leaders insisted on the need to strengthen cooperation between their two countries for the months and years to come.
They signed a joint declaration which recalls the values to which they are attached, and mentioned the need to remain united in the face of the great challenges facing the world ... but also their disagreements, in particular about the Nord Stream gas pipeline which will supply the Germany in energy from Russia.
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With our correspondent in Washington,
Anne Corpet
"
The Chancellor knows the Oval Office as well as I do,
" jokes Joe Biden before praising the exceptional career of Angela Merkel, who has seen four US presidents since her first term - she will leave her post at the end of the year.
She is the first European leader to be welcomed into the White House since the election of Joe Biden, and the latter is organizing an official dinner on Thursday in her honor, with, for example, former US Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and Colin Powell.
► Read also:
Merkel in the United States: "Germany must always give guarantees to ensure American friendship"
But it is a sadder reality that darkens this farewell visit.
The deadly bad weather
that hit northwestern Europe has left 59 dead in Germany, according to a provisional toll, and the Chancellor said she was "
deeply touched by the suffering of those concerned
", saying "fear that the scale real disaster will only be known in the next few days ”.
She spoke of "
a day of fear, a day of anguish, a day of despair
" as US President Joe Biden offered her "
heartfelt condolences
" at a joint press conference.
Nord Stream 2 on the menu
Then the two leaders display their unity, highlight the subjects on which they intend to intensify their cooperation, in particular the distribution of vaccines against Covid, and the fight against global warming.
The only point of friction expected, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. This pipeline connects Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea without passing through Ukraine.
It is supported by Berlin, but much criticized in Washington and in Eastern Europe, where it is feared that it gives Moscow too powerful a lever on its neighbors, and in particular on Kiev.
► Read also:
Nord Stream 2: the pipeline of discord
“
Good friends may disagree, but the Chancellor and I have asked our teams to consider practical steps we could take together so that Ukraine's energy security is not weakened by Russian actions.
We will see, we will see ...
”, delayed Joe Biden.
The German Chancellor has admitted her disagreement with the US president over the pipeline.
But Angela Merkel wanted to be reassuring: she mentioned the possibility of European sanctions against Moscow, if Russia did not respect its commitments to Ukraine.
■
The other points raised by Joe Biden during the press conference
Haiti.
During the press conference, the American president clearly ruled out the idea of sending troops to Haiti. “
Regarding the circumstances under which we would send troops to Haiti: We only send US Marines to our embassy to ensure it is secure and remains under control. But the idea of sending American forces to Haiti is not currently on the agenda.
The small Caribbean country has been
on the verge of
security
chaos
since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse at his home on July 7.
Cuba.
The American president assured to consider "
several things (...) to help the people of Cuba
", a "
failed state which oppresses its citizens
". He announced in particular to be ready to send there "
significant quantities
" of anti-Covid vaccines "
if, in fact, (he) was (t) certain that an international organization would administer these vaccines and would do so in such a way that citizens have access to these vaccines
”, Cuba not having joined the UN Covax program.
Regarding
internet access
, the United States is checking whether they have the "
technological capabilities
" necessary for "
reestablishing
" the cut off mobile internet on the communist island, he added.
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United States
Angela Merkel
Joe biden
Haiti