Photo by Hira V via Wikimedia Commons
German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, with an array of subjects spotlighting relations between the two countries – ranging from bilateral economic ties to the future of NATO alliance and free trade
Merkel has packed her delegation with some of top executives at BMW, Siemens and Schaeffler in a reflection of the economic approach that the chancellor is adopting toward the meeting with Trump, who until his election ran a business empire.
Other issues expected to figure at the talks include NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin, European Union and North Korea.
The background to the meeting also includes some domestic U.S. issues including the Trump Administration’s claim that former president Barack Obama wiretapped the Trump campaign.
Photo By א (Aleph) via Wikimedia Commons
That question might come up during the Press interaction the two leaders would have after the White House talks.
As for the economic basis of the relationship, Merkel “wants to make the point that the companies have created thousands of jobs in the United States,” Tanit Koch, the editor of the German newspaper Bild, says according to the Natioinal Public Radio.
Meanwhile, the BBC has called the Trump-Merkel meeting a defining moment for the two countries.
A series of media reports ahead of the meeting also contrasted the approaches the two very different personalities have taken to some of the key issues including globalization, refugee crisis, immigration and trade issues.
Germany and China have emerged as strong voices for free trade and globalization.
The Western countries have seen a resurgence of the far right in national politics and decisions including the Brexit and the U.S. election have weighed in on the European, American and international politics.
On the eve of the meeting, the Dutch voters rejected a far right politician, who campaigned on the exclusionary politics and the promise of shutting down mosques.
But the underlying theme at the meeting Friday is likely to be economic and trade relations between two of the world’s major economies.
