Germany is ready for 'new chapter' in transatlantic relations

Germany is ready for a "new chapter" in transatlantic relations in which the United States and Europe follow a joint agenda, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday. "In our principles and our values, in our faith in democracy and its ability to take action, we have a broad, good foundation," she told the Munich Security Conference by video link.

"There is much to be done, and Germany stands ready for a new transatlantic chapter." Big challenges such as the pandemic and climate change should be tackled together in multilateralism, she said, and the United States and Europe should have a common stance on Russia.

"It is very important that we develop a common transatlantic Russia agenda, which on the one hand makes cooperative offers, but on the other hand clearly identifies differences," she said.