Merkel: An ally on her own terms

Merkel: An ally on her own terms

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made an historic address to a joint meeting of the United States Congress on Tuesday.

Mrs. Merkel called on the U.S. to join European efforts on global warming.

She also said Iran must never be allowed to have nuclear weapons and re-committed Germany to Afghanistan.

Sitting in the Oval office she cut a small figure beside the towering President Barack Obama. 

She occasionally turned to joke with her staff and at one point even covered her mouth with her hand to tell Mr. Obama something that made the pair of them laugh out loud.

She’s the Chancellor of Europe’s political and economic powerhouse – Germany.

But Angela Merkel is no push-over for Barack Obama. She wants to be a friend and an ally of the United States but on Germany’s terms.  She told reporters:

“We are working on discussing issues related to climate change, Iran, Afghanistan and also the world economic situation.”

On Tuesday she became only the second German Chancellor to address the Congress – the last time was in 1957.

Merkel had an uphill task to convince many sceptics in the Congress to join European efforts on climate change.

“We can already see now where this wasteful attitude towards our future leads, Icebergs are melting in the Arctic, in Africa people become refugees because their environment has been destroyed … the global sea-level is rising.  I delight to note that President Obama, and you in your daily work, consider the protection of our climate a very important task.  We all know we have no time to lose.”

She reiterated Germany’s commitment to Afghanistan – it has the third largest number of troops there - though there was no mention of U.S. requests for Berlin to send more troops to Afghanistan, something that is extremely unpopular with German voters.

“We will be successful if – as we have done up ‘til now – continue to travel this road together every step of the way.  Germany stands ready to shoulder its responsibilities.”

Iran is one of Germany’s biggest trading partners, but Merkel was blunt on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions – they must not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon she said.

“A nuclear bomb in the hands of an Iranian president who denies the holocaust, threatens Israel and denies Israel the right to exist is not acceptable.”

Angela Merkel knows that by addressing a joint meeting of the Congress she can guarantee headlines back home in Europe.  It’s an honour given only to America’s closest allies and friends.

But a warm welcome here is one thing. Translating that into effective co-operation for both sides – is another matter entirely.

John Terrett, Washington DC, November 3rd, 2009