After World War II, the United States and Germany went from being mortal enemies to close friends with the same fundamental values and interests. And while the relationship has been in a deep freeze under US President Donald Trump, it can and must be revived. by Ambassador John B. Emerson and Sigmar Gabriel.
BERLIN – For four years, US President Donald Trump’s administration demonstrated that it had little use for alliances. But the fact remains that the US-German partnership is indispensable and will remain indispensable. The “2+4” negotiations that reunited East and West Germany after decades of separation by the Iron Curtain are but one example of how Americans and Germans have stood shoulder to shoulder throughout the post-World War II period.
As in any relationship, there have been ups and downs, with Trump’s presidency representing a near-unprecedented low. But the ties that bind Germany and America rest on more than just history or sentimentality. Not only do we share core values, but we also share core interests.