Yuri V. Rodovich

Professor, Doctor of Science (History), Professor of the Department of History and Archeology, Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University

Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University

(Tula, Russia)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22405/2712-8407-2021-3-35

Abstract. The article is devoted to the analysis of the interaction between the United States and Germany at the beginning of the second decade of the 21th century. The roots of this interaction go back to the 17th century. For hundreds of years, the desire for cooperation has been manifested in the relations between the two countries, especially after World War II. However, German sovereignty is limited due to the deployment of American military bases on its territory. There have been sometimes contradictions between the partners, in particular, over the invasion of American troops in Iraq in 2003. American-German relations have normalized with Barack Obama’s arrival to the White House in 2009, with whom German Chancellor Angela Merkel established good contacts. The arrival of Donald Trump to the presidential power has shaken the Germans and other Europeans’ faith in the United States as a guarantor of their security and well-being. Relations between Germany and the United States have sunk to the lowest level. Since the election to the post of US President Joe Biden, steps have been taken to restore transatlantic relations in the framework of multilateral and bilateral meetings. Nevertheless, the hasty and chaotic withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 has undermined the confidence of a number of NATO member countries in the US willingness to fulfill its security commitments. Thus, the relations between Germany and the USA have undergone a significant evolution – from close bilateral cooperation and one within the framework of NATO to the crisis that, in fact, has become a "collapse of confidence". It is about Washington's hegemonic aspirations and its selfish position towards its allies. Therefore, many European countries, in particular Germany, have no longer considered the United States as a reliable partner. It is no coincidence that their leaders have begun to speak out for ensuring defense primarily within the framework of the European Union in the last few years.
Keywords: Germany, USA, transatlantic relations, NATO, European Union.

Full text of the article (PDF)

For citation: Rodovich, YV 2021, ‘Relations between Germany and the USA: from transatlantic unity to crisis’, Tula Scientific Bulletin. History. Linguistics, issue 3 (7), pp. 35–48, https://doi.org/10.22405/2712-8407-2021-3-35 (in Russ.)

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