German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to meet President Trump so as to have discussions about the relationship between Germany and the United States. Matters of transatlantic trade, as well as Nato ties, will be an essential part of their deliberations which are to be held in Washington. The meeting is to occur on Friday. Other issues on the agenda include foreign policy concerning Russia, North Korea, Syria, Iran as well as the peace process in the Middle East.
President Trump has conflicted with Germany on various issues, including the threat to place tariffs on German car imports. He has in the past called on Germany to raise its budget on its defense sector. On a more personal level, the two leaders have clashed publicly. President Trump criticized how Chancellor Merkel handled the German crisis on Syrian refugees. Merkel, on the other hand, has criticized Trump’s move to ban the citizens of six countries from being able to travel to the US. The two leaders also have diverging opinions on the roles of the US and Germany at a global level.
Merkel, however, could become a resource for the United States in seeking better transatlantic relations. Her knowledge, as well as consistent attitude once an agreement has been set, could be invaluable to the United States. In an interview, Constanze Stelzenmüller said, “If any European leader can be assumed to have profound insights into (Putin’s) thinking and psychology, but at the same time have a very hard-nosed attitude toward a strategic goal, then it would be Merkel.” Constanze is a Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
In recent times, the White House has decided to shift its focus on the benefits of the two leaders meeting rather than seek the reconciliation of the two leaders after President Trump used his criticism of Merkel’s style to spur on his campaign.
During a background briefing in preparation for the meeting, administration officials told the press that Trump was “impressed by” Merkel’s leadership. The officials also said that Trump and Merkel were looking forward to having their two countries cooperate so as to fight terrorism and improve trade. They also expected Trump to inform Merkel of how much he appreciated the “deep friendship” Germany and the United States have had.
In Berlin, the situation was somewhat similar. German officials expressed cautious optimism as days wound down for the meeting to be held. Ahead of the talks, Merkel also expressed her eagerness in meeting President Trump, sighting positive discussions. “It’s always better to talk with each other than about each other,” she told Saarbruecker Zeitung.
Merkel’s meeting with President Trump had been scheduled to occur on Monday. However, recent snowstorms caused that date to be postponed to Friday. The two leaders are planned to have a two-hour meeting with a working lunch afterward. German officials have also seen the meeting as an opportunity for the two leaders to prepare for the G20 summit scheduled in July and the G7 meeting to be held in May.
The two politicians have very different leadership styles. However, the discussions will require that they put their differences aside and focus on the betterment of their respective countries.
