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Merkel for balanced ties with U.S., Russia

Batuk Gathani

London: The intensive round of talks that German Chancellor Angela Merkel held with Russian President Valdimir Putin earlier this week has evoked much academic and business interest in European Union capitals.

Germany has emerged as Russia's largest trading partner in Europe. Berlin is keen to maintain a "neutral but warm" balance of power and influence with both the United States and Russia. This was highlighted by Ms. Merkel's talks with U.S. President George W. Bush on January 13. The Bush-Merkel meeting was structured to narrow the differences over the Iraq war, which developed during Gerhard Schroeder's rule.

Ms. Merkel has been engaged in a "damage limitation" exercise with U.S. and her determination and pragmatic approach have had an appeal on both sides of the Atlantic.

Putting in perspective her approach, Ms. Merkel said in the U.S., "Let the battles of the past lie. Those battles have been fought. As far as the future is concerned the new [German] Government will work for a close, honest, trusting relationship in the trans-Atlantic partnership."

In Moscow on Monday, Ms. Merkel and Mr. Putin held consultations for more than two hours. Incidentally, she was born in the former Communist-ruled East German region where during the 1980s, Mr. Putin served as a special officer of the Russian intelligence organisation, the KGB.

Ms. Merkel appears to have established a close rapport with Mr. Bush. American and German officials have said the Bush-Merkel meeting highlighted "the beginning of new era." Similar sentiments were also echoed in Moscow.

For the U.S. and Russia, relationship with Germany represents a strategic partnership with Europe as a whole.

The Russian-German trade totalled euro 45 billion in 2005 and there are 4,800 German companies that have invested in Russia. Germany, and Europe at large, depend on Russian gas and energy supplies and a gas pipeline to Germany from Russia is being constructed.

Ms. Merkel expressed the hope that Russia would emerge as a stable and prosperous neighbour of the European Union.

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