Name? Joe Biden
Westphalian identity? United States American
Age? 78
Why is he in the news? President Biden met with Germany’s Chancellor Merkel yesterday as a sign of warming US-German relations and at a greater scale, warming US-European relations. While the two leaders stressed their shared values, they also discussed notable disagreements such as the NordStream2 pipeline to Germany.
Why do we care? Because as Merkel stated, our German-American selves “are not only partners and allies, but we are very close friends.” And while the meeting did not accomplish much policy wise, it appeared a victory of the personal as Biden prepared to bid Merkel farewell as her term ends in September. Hoping her successor, whoever it will be, will build on them.
Why should you care? Considering the bilateral meeting did not result in an opening of US borders for vaccinated Europeans nor a lifting of patents for coronavirus vaccines in Europe, as Biden may have hoped, you will feel very little impact from Biden’s talks with Merkel. Therefore you should care 1/10.
Who else cares? Vladimir Putin. One of the main disagreements between Merkel and Biden appeared to be Putin’s Nord Stream 2 project–a pipeline set to bring Russian gas to the rest of Europe. While Biden continued to argue that the pipeline would not only increase Europe’s reliance on Russian energy, while Merkel highlighted the differences in their opinions; something Putin will surely be happy about as it means no action with one voice.
Any further comments? Merkel visiting Biden as the first European leader to do so since he took office in January does not come as a surprise and yet, should not be overlooked. The bilateral meeting underscored President Biden’s priority of once again strengthening US-German and US-European alliances after his predecessor nearly destroyed them. But as Merkel showed, Biden would face many obstacles to proving the US is committed to strengthening and not governing the vital transatlantic relationship.
