BerlinUkraine‘s four main allies reaffirmed support for Kyiv in a brief meeting this Friday in Berlin. The top leaders of the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom wanted to send an image of unity at the gates of the third winter of war from the city that was the capital of the Cold War.
In a closed-door meeting, President Joe Biden, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer coordinated their strategy ahead of the American election that may chill the alliance between the United States and Europe, especially if Donald Trump wins. Despite messages of support for Kyiv, they did not respond to demands made this week by Volodymyr Zelenskiy for Ukraine to join NATO and get permission to launch Western-made long-range missiles on Russian soil.
For the German chancellor, receiving the leaders of these three nuclear powers has been an injection of self-esteem. In an appearance with Biden, Scholz made it clear that the goal is to find a balance: “We support Ukraine as firmly as possible. At the same time, we make sure that NATO does not become part of the war.” Biden acknowledged the effort involved in supporting Kyiv: “I know the cost is high. But make no mistake, it is small compared to the cost of living in a world where aggression prevails.”
The United States and Germany are the main donors of arms and military equipment to Ukraine, and the aggression ordered by Vladimir Putin in February 2022 has strengthened their ties. In the wake of the war, Germany cut ties with Russia, including receiving gas through the Nord Stream, and is paying the consequences with an economic stagnation that it cannot overcome.
The American president also congratulated Berlin for having decided to devote 2% of its budget to defense. During his presidency Donald Trump harshly criticized Germany for not doing so. In fact, this was one of Trump’s most repeated reproaches against Chancellor Angela Merkel, with whom relations were very strained. When she came to the White House in 2017, Merkel said that Europe had to prepare to go it alone in the global arena. A speech that we can hear again soon if the billionaire wins the election.
The impact of the Cold War on Biden’s legacy
Last week, Biden canceled a trip to Europe because of the hurricane in Florida. That he decided to reschedule the visit before the Americans go to the polls shows the importance he gives to transatlantic relations. At the end of his term, he remarked with Scholz that Germany “is the most important and closest ally” of the United States. Political analysts point out that growing up during the Cold War and visiting divided Germany as a senator in 1980 have profoundly shaped his worldview and international relations. The joint history between the two countries dates back to the end of World War II and the Marshall Plan, which played a key role in reviving the West German economy.
Berlin often continues to treat Washington as an older brother when making decisions in the international arena. Biden even spoke of an “act of friendship” to refer to Germany’s role in ending this summer’s US-Russia prisoner exchange. To make that possible, Germany released Vadim Krasikov, a Russian assassin serving time for the 2019 murder of a Chechen leader in Berlin.
In the morning, Biden excitedly received the Order of Merit, Germany’s highest distinction, from the head of state Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “This distinction means a lot to me because of what it says about us,” he said. He is the second American president to receive it after George Bush to collaborate in the reunification of Germany.
The advances of the Russian army in the east of Ukraine and the doubts about the effectiveness of the Ukrainian military strategy were not part of the speeches of this farewell visit between the two allies. Biden is nearing the end of his political career and Scholz is a long way from securing a second term and the two mostly exchanged words of appreciation. At this point, it is uncertain whether we will see such good harmony between Germany and the United States again.
