In their first phone call, US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed that close cooperation between the two countries is needed if they are to face the current pandemic and other global challenges.

Merkel calls Biden

Chancellor Angela Merkel and Joe Biden spoke to each other on Monday, in what was the first phone call between the pair since Biden took office last week. According to Merkel’s spokesperson, Steffan Seibert, both leaders agreed that the coronavirus pandemic and other global challenges can only be overcome if America and Germany work together. "The chancellor and the American president agreed that stronger international efforts were needed to deal with the coronavirus pandemic," said Seibert.

Merkel took the opportunity to praise Biden’s decision to re-join the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Paris climate accord. The two leaders also discussed foreign policy and trade matters and, according to Seibert, Merkel affirmed “Germany's willingness to take on responsibility in dealing with international tasks together with its European and transatlantic partners."

Chancellor Merkel also took the opportunity to congratulate President Biden on his inauguration and invited him to Germany as soon as travel restrictions were eased.

Rebuilding the transatlantic bridge

Relations between Germany and the US became increasingly strained under ex-President Donald Trump. Trump accused the EU of cheating, both in terms of trade and military cooperation, at the expense of the US economy. He pulled America from the Paris climate accord, saying it was "was designed to kill the American economy" and threatened to withdraw US troops from Germany.

Merkel has already spoken of her hope of mending the strained relations between the two countries, stating that there is a “far broader scope for political consensus” now that Biden had replaced Trump.