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| U.S.-Germany Relations
Fact Sheet released by the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, U.S. Department of State, |
U.S.-German relations have been a focal point of American involvement in Europe since the end of World War II. Germany stands at the center of European affairs and is a key partner in U.S. relations with Europeans in NATO and the European Union. But German-American ties extend back to the colonial era. More than 7 million Germans have immigrated over the last three centuries, and today nearly 25% of U.S. citizens can claim some German ancestry.Contemporary U.S.-German relations are excellent, reinforced by the recent history of strong and unconditional U.S. support for German unification. President Clinton and Chancellor Kohl have exchanged visits and maintain regular contacts. Chancellor Kohl last met the President June 4 in Washington, DC for formal bilateral consultations, but they often meet in conjunction with other summits.
U.S.-German relations are characterized by close cooperation on a diverse range of political, military, and economic issues. This is due to shared convictions on the value of free markets and close transatlantic political and security ties, and to Chancellor Kohl's efforts to coordinate with the U.S. whenever possible.
Political Relations
U.S.-German cooperation has been particularly close in working to develop a constructive relationship between the West and Russia and in assisting Moscow with efforts to strengthen democracy and establish a free market economy. One important result was the NATO-Russia "Founding Act." Germany and the U.S. also have worked closely on democracy-building and free market initiatives in central and eastern Europe. The U.S. and Germany continue to coordinate closely on the Balkans and the implementation of the Dayton accords. Both nations have benefited from cooperative efforts on economic and trade issues, such as the completion of the GATT Uruguay Round, the extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, combating international terrorism and drug trafficking, supporting human rights, and maintaining sanctions on Iraq.
Security/Military Relations
With the withdrawal of Russian forces from Germany and most of central Europe, the nature of Germany's security relationship with the U.S. changed. U.S.-German relations now rest on a foundation of shared values and compatible although not always identical interests. The U.S. has maintained a close and very productive relationship with Bonn in dealing with Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, the adaptation of NATO, and assisting Eastern Europe. U.S.-German partnership on these and other key questions is likely to grow in the years ahead. The German Government shares the U.S. view that united Germany should assume greater responsibilities for making the global system work. A majority of Germans now agree that the country should become more active on the international stage through multilateral institutions such as NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union and the United Nations. The Germans particularly appreciate President Clinton's support for permanent German membership on the UN Security Council.
The F.R.G. reached a historic milestone when the German parliament voted to send about 3,000 combat support troops to Bosnia as part of IFOR/SFOR. Prior to the German Supreme Court 1994 decision on "out of area" operations, Germany had sent only military medical and engineering units to support UN operations in Somalia and Cambodia. In July 1996, Germany took a second important step, becoming the only European ally to support the U.S.-led Train and Equip program for Bosnia. Bonn's military and political contribution to NATO is robust and vital, and Germany's financial support for democratization, peace, and security in central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union is unsurpassed. Germany hosts 80,000 of the 100,000 american troops based in Europe.
Economic Relations
At just over $2 trillion, the German economy is the world's third-largest. Germany is the seventh-largest trading partner of the U.S., accounting for some $24.5 billion in U.S. exports annually. The U.S.-German economic relationship is generally smooth, although several trade issues have been problematic. U.S. industry has complained about impediments to competition both in the telecommunications sector and in public procurement, but the Germans have (on telecommunications) or will soon pass legislation (on public procurement) which should eliminate U.S. companies' competitive disadvantages. U.S. industry has also complained about German Government "dumping" practices on behalf of companies in the former East Germany. This dispute should be resolved shortly and to all parties' satisfaction. The main bilateral economic disagreement concerns U.S. economic sanctions policy against such states as Iran and Cuba. Germany, along with the rest of the EU, would prefer to use dialogue and trade to achieve mutual goals. Most fundamentally, the U.S. and Germany share a common, deep-seated commitment to an open and expanding world economy.
[End of Document]
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