Merkel Is Ready to Greet, and Then Resist, Obama

BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, an avowed friend of the United States and the leader of the European Union’s biggest economy, is diplomatic about the coming visit by President Obama. But she is clear that she is not about to give ground on new stimulus spending, stressing the need to maintain fiscal discipline even as she professes to want to work closely with the new American president. “International policy is, for all the friendship and commonality, always also about representing the interests of one’s own country,” Mrs. Merkel said in an interview with The New York Times and The International Herald Tribune. During the hourlong interview, Mrs. Merkel made clear that she was not wavering in her response to the economic crisis, by loosening the German checkbook or encouraging the European Central Bank to follow the Federal Reserve in pumping money into the system. She also said she expected Mr. Obama to keep his word to gradually rein in imbalances that would cause American indebtedness to grow sharply as a result of his domestic stimulus plans. For a new president in difficult times who may miss the simplicity of campaigning, Mr. Obama might be well served to think of Mrs. Merkel as the swing state of European leaders. “On an international level, we must all recognize that after the crisis we need to return again to solid financial policies,” Mrs. Merkel said. “Otherwise, we run the risk of already preparing the next crisis.” For all the domestic pressures, Mrs. Merkel has always been dedicated to the strong relationship that sprang up between the United States and Germany. She stressed during the interview, “It is in the interest of Germany that America plays a strong role in the world and emerges from the crisis stronger.” “I firmly believe that the crisis has made it clear that no country can solve its problems on its own, and we, at the beginning of the 21st century, must have the will to enhance international cooperation to a new qualitative level,” Mrs. Merkel said.

( Retirado do jornal INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE - 30.03.09 )