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Joe Biden said he would be willing “in the next few days” to say when the U.S. could lift a Covid-related travel ban on European countries after Angela Merkel pressured her on the issue.
“She is OK. And I will be able to answer that question for you in the next few days, “Biden said at a news conference with Merkel, who is on her last visit to Washington as German chancellor.
“I’m waiting to hear from our people on our Covid team as to when this should be done. And the chancellor did raise it.”
The comments of the President of the United States made one wait chronology to finish restrictions of the pandemic era on travel between America and European countries within the Schengen area, which have been established since the first weeks of Coronavirus pandemic last year.
But U.S. officials have resisted lifting the travel ban, and Merkel acknowledged that the spread of Delta variant it was “a new challenge for both of us.”
“Before this decision, we need to think and it must be a sustainable decision. It certainly doesn’t make sense to have to get it back after a few days. So me. . . have full confidence in Covid’s American team, ”said Merkel.
Biden and Merkel said they also discussed the conflict North Stream Pipeline 2, which would transport Russian gas to Europe.
The German-backed pipeline, almost complete, would allow Russia to bypass Ukraine when sending gas to Europe. Critics say it will increase Europe’s dependence on Russian energy and leave Ukraine more vulnerable to Kremlin pressure.
On Thursday, Merkel said she and Biden had come up with “different assessments.” “Our idea is and continues to be that Ukraine remains a transit country for natural gas and that Ukraine, like any other country in the world, has a right to territorial sovereignty.”
Biden said “good friends may disagree” and that he and Merkel had discussed “practical steps” Berlin and Washington could take together.
The two leaders also spoke of a common approach in China, although there has been a marked difference on the issue. While Biden has lobbied for European support for a tougher approach to Beijing, the German political establishment has been cautious about being dragged into a new Cold War.
Although Merkel has constantly stressed the need to partner with China, on Thursday she said that there was “a very common understanding that China in many areas is our competitor, and that trade with China must be based on the assumption that we have a level playing field. because everyone. . . play by the same rules ”.
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