Before his meeting with US President Joe Biden in the White House, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) stressed the trusting relationship with the United States. Relations between Germany and the United States are "as good as they have not been for many years," Scholz told journalists in Washington on Friday. This is important in these times of Russia's "terrible war of aggression against Ukraine."

But the further development of transatlantic cooperation will also be important "in the long run," Scholz continued. "The basis for this is trust, that you keep talking and discussing with each other, and that's exactly what we're doing," he added.

The Chancellor will be received by President Joe Biden at the White House in the evening. The central topic of the talks in Washington will be the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. This is likely to involve further aid for Kiev, but possibly also China's growing importance in the Ukraine war. Scholz had said in the run-up to the trip, in the talks with Biden, the "close coordination" with the United States should be continued. The transatlantic partnership is "closer and more trusting than ever".

However, there had also been differences of opinion between Berlin and Washington over support for Ukraine. In January, for example, tensions arose between the two governments over the issue of the supply of Western battle tanks. Scholz had completed his inaugural visit as Chancellor in Washington in February 2022 and will now be received for the second time in the White House.