乐鱼 体育

Angela Merkel鈥檚 last visit to Washington as Chancellor of Germany offers a moment for reflection on her profound impact on Germany, Europe, and the transatlantic alliance. She knows President Biden well and has been clear in her intent to reinvigorate Germany鈥檚 ties to the United States, even though in her typically cautious way she has not necessarily embraced every aspect of the new administration鈥檚 agenda. She was surprised at the lack of consultation when it came to U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan since Germany and other NATO allies also have forces there. She remains committed to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project with Russia, even though President Biden has called it a 鈥渂ad deal鈥� and many members of Congress are strongly opposed. She used Germany鈥檚 EU Presidency last winter to ink an investment deal with China despite U.S. concerns. That deal is now in the deep freeze after EU sanctions on China and Chinese countersanctions on the European parliament and a number of prominent German research institutes and individuals. Germany鈥檚 lagging defense expenditures remain of concern to the United States.

What鈥檚 new is that Merkel and Biden have been discussing these issues throughout the spring and summer as part of a new spirit of overall strategic realignment. That alignment was key to the strong set of commitments made at the G7, U.S.-EU and NATO summits held in June. Both countries have framed the climate change agenda as part of larger efforts to build more competitive, just and resilient economies that can sustain good-paying jobs. There is renewed U.S.-German attention to continuing challenges in the Western Balkans and support for Ukraine, which is still under assault from Russia. Despite some German-American differences in tactics, German opinion is toughening on China.

What unites Biden and Merkel is their shared understanding that even though Germany has once again become Europe鈥檚 swing state, it is a country with great weight yet uncertain power. The goal ahead is to encourage Germany to step up its engagement on the European and global stage in a way that reassures other countries about Germany and reassures the Germans about themselves. Merkel managed Germany鈥檚 evolution in often masterful ways. The question now is whether her successors will prove to be as adept.