Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken out for joint efforts with United States to calm world's trouble spots. Among or things, she called conflict with Iran and war in Syria. "Germany and United States should work closely toger, too, to end terrible bloodshed in Syria and to get a solution for region as a whole," Merkel said. She was a friend of cooperation with United States on issue of Russia. There is "a high degree of consensus" in view of conflicts with Russia and Moscow's role in Syria, Merkel said.

The Chancellor had travelled to Washington for a three-hour meeting with US President Donald Trump. In addition to international conflicts, mes of work visit included World trade and defence spending. It was first meeting of both for about a year and connected with expectation that Germany's relations with US will improve. In addition to nationally-oriented course trumps, announced import duties, which Trump called punitive duties, had a negative impact on mutual relationship. Trump praised Merkel: "She does a fantastic job."

Merkel said she could imagine that Europe is also getting into new trade talks with US. The Chancellor referred to rain of reciprocal exchange of goods. Trump complained denhohen trade surplus of EU of well 150Milliarden dollars a year. Therefore, he had announced to levy import duty on European goods. A grace period approved by United States will expire in a few days. The EU had threatened to take countermeasures. Both were not closer to content. Merkel said in light of expiry deadline: "The president will decide."

Defence spending to be increased

Merkel continued to say that Germany is aiming to increase defence spending. We should be on right track, but not yet in NATO-agreed brand. Trump again urged Germany to spend at least two percent of its gross domestic product on defence. Europeans should be adequately concerned for ir security, US president said.

After meeting, Merkel said EU and Germany must take on more responsibility in world and take ir own destiny into ir own hands. The time of postwar order, in which Europe and Germany benefited primarily from use of USA, was over. The Americans now wondered how useful this commitment is for m. It is right if US president says that Europe is economically successful, but does not want to do much in military engagement.

Merkel criticizes Iran

Both of m also spoke of rapprochement between North and South Korea. They also retraced political progress towards a peace settlement to United States. "The campaign of maximum pressure has helped us to achieve this step," Trump said. The US would not reduce pressure before a complete denuclearization of peninsula was achieved. He is looking forward to a meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, which is planned for next few weeks. Merkel also spoke out for a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Korea.

At same time, it urged it to come to a solution with Iran. Trump called local government a "murderous regime." He reiterated that Iran should never be able to get into possession of nuclear weapons. The agreement was "a first step", which helped to slow down Iran's nuclear activities and also to monitor m better, Merkel said after meeting. But this is not a matter of achieving a role for Iran that is based on reliability. "That's why more must be added." It was to establish reliability beyond duration of agreement.

The Chancellor was pleased to see that US again had an ambassador in Berlin. Among participants of press conference was also newly appointed representative of federal government in USA, Richard Grenell.

Date Of Update: 28 April 2018, 12:02