With a view to the German-Israeli government consultations due to be held soon, Angela Merkel said that Germany offers "every form of support" to the mediation efforts in the Middle East conflict. The Chancellor and the US Secretary of State also exchanged views on the situation in Syria, Iran’s nuclear programme and the current situation in Ukraine.

Bilateral issues discussed

Angela Merkel pointed to the progress that has been achieved in negotiating a transatlantic free trade agreement. "For Germany, as an exporting nation, this is crucially important," she said. Angela Merkel and John Kerry also discussed the activities of the NSA and cooperation between intelligence services.

In view of common security interests, the future engagement in Afghanistan was another important point on their agenda.

Shared values

The Chancellor stressed that the transatlantic partnership is extraordinarily important. "Our common interests will also be the driver in finding common solutions, step by step, although some things will take longer," said Angela Merkel. The fact that differences of opinion exist on certain issues cannot call into question the fundamental partnership. The US Secretary of State pointed to Germany’s growing global importance, and to the fundamental values that the two countries share.

The Chancellor declared in a government statement delivered in the German Bundestag on 29 January that, in spite of all ongoing conflicts, she will always state unequivocally that Germany could not wish for a better partner than the United States of America. "The German-American partnership and the transatlantic partnership remain exceptionally important for us."

Alongside European integration, the transatlantic partnership is the most important pillar of Germany’s foreign policy. The United States of America is Germany’s closest ally outside Europe. Transatlantic relations are based on shared interests, the close interconnectedness of societies on both sides of the Atlantic, and mutual trust.