The meeting between Chancellor Scholz and US President Biden in Washington is at least superficially harmonious. The President thanks Scholz for his course in the Ukraine crisis. It made a “huge difference”.
US President Joe Biden has thanked Chancellor Olaf Scholz for leading Germany in supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia. “I want to thank you, Olaf, for your strong and consistent leadership,” Biden said at a White House meeting with the SPD politician. “I mean that honestly. It made a huge difference.”
Germany is not only providing “military support” but also “moral support” that is very “deep,” Biden said in the White House Oval Office. Scholz has driven “historic changes” in Germany, increasing defense spending and moving away from reliance on Russian energy. This was “not easy” but “very difficult”. “We are working together in lockstep to deliver critical security support to Ukraine,” Biden said. Germany and the USA would also make NATO “stronger and more capable”.
Scholz spoke of a “very, very important year because of the very dangerous threat to peace posed by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia”. “It’s really important that we acted together,” added the Chancellor, referring to support for Ukraine after Russia’s war of aggression began on February 24, 2022. “Now it is very important that we send the message that we will continue to do this for as long as it takes and for as long as it takes, and that we are ready to stand by the Ukrainians for as long as it takes.”
Scholz, who spoke in English, spoke of “very good cooperation” with the USA. The transatlantic partnership is “really in very good condition today”. After their statements to the press, Biden and Scholz withdrew to talk about the Ukraine war. A press conference afterwards was not planned.
Scholz had already assured before he left for Washington that the transatlantic partnership was “closer and more trusting than ever”. However, there had also been differences of opinion between Berlin and Washington when it came to supporting Ukraine. In January, for example, tensions arose between the two governments over the issue of supplying western main battle tanks.
