{"id":36752,"date":"2016-04-25T13:22:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-25T17:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stateofthenation2012.com\/?p=36752"},"modified":"2016-04-25T13:22:57","modified_gmt":"2016-04-25T17:22:57","slug":"international-odd-couple-how-obama-and-merkel-forged-a-special-bond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateofthenation2012.com\/?p=36752","title":{"rendered":"International odd couple: How Obama and Merkel forged a special bond"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
\"AFP_9X9AA\"<\/a>

Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Obama on Sunday attend the opening ceremony of the Hanover industry Fair in Hanover, Germany. on April 24, 2016. (Ronny Hartmann\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

By Greg Jaffe<\/a><\/p>\n

HANOVER, Germany \u2014<\/span> German Chancellor Angela Merkel was asked Sunday to reminisce about her fondest moments with President Obama during the seven years of his presidency.<\/p>\n

Her short, remarkably unsentimental answer explains why she has become Obama\u2019s closest overseas ally and the president\u2019s political and ideological soul mate on critical issues such as Syria, terrorism and containing Russian aggression in Ukraine. More than most American presidents, Obama disdains what he regards as needy, showboating allies. Merkel is most definitely neither.<\/p>\n

The chancellor grimaced at the question from the German reporter. \u201cI am not in a position to take stock now,\u201d she replied curtly. There was too much important work to do.<\/p>\n

Obama, who is incapable of speaking in anything other than full \u2014 and frequently florid \u2014 paragraphs, smiled broadly and used the moment to pay Merkel a compliment.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has a really good sense of humor that she doesn\u2019t show all the time at press conferences,\u201d Obama said. \u201cShe\u2019s a little more \u2014 she\u2019s much more serious in front of all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

An amused smile flashed across Merkel\u2019s face, prompting a storm of clicking camera shutters from the photographers in the room.<\/p>\n

Obama was officially in Germany for the Hannover Messe, a major trade and technology show here that is promoting American companies and products. After their news conference, he and Merkel presided over the fair\u2019s opening ceremony, which included robots and music from the Broadway show \u201cWicked.\u201d Later in the evening they dined with German and American CEOs.<\/p>\n

The real reason Obama came to Germany was simpler and more straightforward: Merkel asked him.<\/p>\n

These are tough times for Europe, which is struggling with terrorism, an anemic economy and an unprecedented migrant crisis. They are also tough times for the longtime German chancellor, who faces unprecedented pressure, due in part to her strong advocacy for migrants pouring into Europe at levels not seen since World War II.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps because she once lived behind a wall herself, Angela understands the aspirations of those who\u2019ve been denied their freedom and who seek a better life,\u201d Obama said of Merkel, who grew up in the formerly communist east.<\/p>\n

In an attempt to relieve some of the pressure, Merkel and Turkish leaders brokered a deal late last month that will send virtually all of the migrants who attempt to enter Europe via the Aegean Sea \u2014 including Syrians \u2014 back to Turkey. In exchange, Turkey gets $6.6\u00a0billion and the promise of jump-started talks on its E.U. membership.<\/p>\n

The challenges facing Merkel were front and center throughout the news conference, especially when the two leaders discussed the plight of Syrian refugees and the need for a safe zone inside that country where the displaced would be protected from the Islamic State and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad\u2019s forces.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Obama voiced sympathy for Syrians caught in the middle of their country\u2019s brutal civil war. \u201cWe all care deeply about the tragic humanitarian crisis inside of Syria. I live with this every day,\u201d he said. But he said he opposes a safe zone administered by the United States that might lead to fewer migrants, because securing such an area would require thousands of troops and come with too many difficult questions.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you do it? And who is going to put a bunch of ground troops inside of Syria?\u201d Obama asked. \u201cHow do you let people in? And who do you let in and who do you let out? And how is it monitored?\u201d<\/p>\n

Merkel didn\u2019t disagree. Instead, she said Western allies had to figure out a way through the peace negotiations with Russia, Iran and Assad\u2019s regime to help protect Syria\u2019s most vulnerable citizens. \u201cWe have to send a message to them,\u201d she said of the thousands of desperate Syrians trying to flee the country for Europe.<\/p>\n

The two leaders also talked about their mutual support for a far-reaching trade deal between the United States and Europe \u2014 the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership \u2014 that has drawn fierce opposition from some Germans. The day before Obama arrived, thousands of people gathered in Hanover to protest the deal. Obama expressed hope that some of the resistance to the deal in the United States might start to ease \u201cafter the primary season is over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we all know that elections can sometimes make things a little more challenging,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople take positions, in part, to protect themselves from attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merkel offered her endorsement of the pact in typical no-nonsense fashion: \u201cIt is important for the German economy,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is important for the whole European economy. We ought to have an interest in speeding negotiations up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The reporters had more questions. Merkel pressed forward with her staccato answers.<\/p>\n

She was asked about the prospect of working with a Republican presidential candidate \u2014 front-runner Donald Trump \u2014 who has called her welcoming refugee policies \u201cinsane.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merkel arched an eyebrow and cocked her head, a gesture far more revealing than her answer. Cameras clicked furiously. \u201cFirst, I concentrate on the task ahead for 2016. I\u2019m quite busy with that, thank you very much,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Local Politics Alerts<\/p>\n

Breaking news about local government in D.C., Md., Va.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n