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German-US ties

June 9, 2011

Chancellor Angela Merkel's trip to Washington came at a crucial time for US-German relations, which are in need of a fresh impetus, says Steven Sokol in a guest commentary for Deutsche Welle.

https://p.dw.com/p/11TvB
steven sokol
Steven E. SokolImage: Brian Cohen

Steven E. Sokol is president of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. He has also worked as vice president and director of programs at the American Council on Germany.

On June 7, President Barack Obama and the first lady welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband to the White House for the first official state dinner held for a German chancellor or federal president since then-president Richard von Weizsäcker was hosted by US President George H.W. Bush in 1992, two years after German reunification.

As someone who lived in Berlin the late 1980s and through much of the 1990s, was lucky enough to witness the fall of the Berlin Wall first hand, and has been a keen observer of Germany, Europe, and the evolving trans-Atlantic relationship, this visit by Chancellor Merkel could hardly have come at a better time.

In recent months, the center-right coalition of Christian Democrats and Free Democrats has puzzled its European neighbors and other allies with some of its policy decisions. Most notably, in March Germany broke with its NATO partners - and joined Brazil, China, India, and Russia - by abstaining from a UN Security Council vote to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya and take other actions in an effort to protect civilian lives.

Puzzling policies

With regard to its European policy, Germany has been reluctant to help countries on the periphery of the euro zone which are facing sovereign debt crises. Initially, Germany pushed for rigorous conditions for assistance, however, as the euro itself has come under threat Germany has reduced its demands and sought a comprehensive solution for the euro zone. Some economic analysts in the United States are particularly concerned that the euro crisis could have a negative impact on the US economic recovery.

Most recently, the German government surprised Germany's neighbors by agreeing to phase out all nuclear power by 2022. Following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11 and the ensuing nuclear crisis, Chancellor Merkel reversed a pro-nuclear policy which was adopted late last year by shutting down seven of Germany's older plants and enforcing a three-month nuclear power moratorium. Recently, the government agreed to eliminate nuclear power over the next decade.

There is no doubt that some of these decisions were motivated - at least in part - by domestic politics: Seven of Germany's 16 Länder hold state elections this year and the popularity of Merkel's Christian Democrats and the governing coalition have been waning. However, decisions such as these have caused consternation about Germany's foreign and security policy on both sides of the Atlantic - and about the apparent geopolitical vacuum at the heart of Europe. They have also raised questions about how Germany sees its role on the world stage.

Pragmatism required

But facing common foreign policy concerns - or having shared values - is not enough to maintain the special relationship which has existed between Germany and the United States for more than five decades. Nor is it enough to meet the myriad of challenges of the 21st century. Pragmatism and action are required.

Since coming into office, President Obama has demonstrated that he is looking for effective partners around the world to develop pragmatic solutions on a range of issues. The relationship between Germany (or Europe for that matter) and the United States will not be defined based on bilateral issues, but rather on how we work together to tackle key global issues.

International engagement

Let's not forget that during her first term in office at the head of a Grand Coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats (from 2005 to 2009), Chancellor Merkel played a major role in shaping the German and European foreign policy agenda. She took an active role in international affairs and often upstaged her SPD Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Merkel managed to repair the rift between Berlin and Washington after her predecessor - and Steinmeier's former boss - Chancellor Gerhard Schröder opposed the US invasion of Iraq. However, since being reelected, Merkel has shown less interest in foreign policy, and her new Foreign Minister from the FDP, Guido Westerwelle, has been ranked one of Germany's least successful and least popular foreign ministers in more than six decades.

Given the sweeping changes across the Arab world, and the role that Europe could play there, Europe is in need of leadership. Let's hope that Chancellor Merkel's visit will bring back the international engagement we were used to!

Editor: Rob Mudge