German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a visit to the United States has held a meeting with her host, President Joe Biden, to discuss several issues, including the Russian pipeline project to Russia.
The two leaders, Chancellor Angela Merkel and her host President Joe Biden have openly pledged their commitment to further cooperation between the United States and European countries on a visit that will likely be Merkel's last visit to Washington.
Merkel, who became the first European head of state to be welcomed at the White House by President Joe Biden since she was sworn in in January, has made the visit in a bid to rekindle relations between Berlin and Washington that shattered former US President Donald Trump.
"We are not just allies but also close nations," said Chancellor Merkel after lengthy talks with President Biden.
Biden thanked Chancellor Merkel for her leadership and said as she prepares to step down after 16 years in power in Germany, relations between the two countries will remain strong under the foundations she has built.
The two leaders have pledged to work together to promote peace, security, and prosperity around the world.
The differences about the Gas Pipeline project are still huge
But they have also made it clear that they are very different about the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project that will supply Russian gas to Europe through Germany.
"Even close friends have different perspectives," Biden said, adding that he had once again told Chancellor Merkel his concerns about the project.
The $ 11 billion projects has been a hotbed of tensions between the United States and Germany, with Washington saying it poses a security threat by increasing Europe's dependence on gas energy from Russia.
Other nations and members of the NATO alliance are opposed to the gas pipeline project.
However, Merkel has assured President Biden that in Germany the project is a complementary and unchanging course of action, including protecting the interests of the West and its allied nations, such as Ukraine.
Merkel holds a master's degree
Before meeting President Biden, Chancellor Merkel held talks with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, business leaders in the United States, and also attended the graduation of the Master's Degree with Johns Hopkins University.
In a speech at the college, Chancellor Merkel called for further international dialogue and for the United Nations to be empowered to find solutions to global challenges.
Chancellor Merkel has made 20 visits to the United States in her 16-year term and has met with four of the nation's presidents since taking office in 2005.
He had good relations with presidents George Bush and Barack Obama but his relations with Donald Trump went awry after Trump attacked him due to his policy of allowing a large number of immigrants to Germany.
