Some viewed the canceled meeting as the latest downward turn in transatlantic relations.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo boards a plane after attending the Arctic Council summit in Rovaniemi, Finland, on May 7. By Rick Noack and Rick Noack Foreign affairs reporter focusing on Europe and international security Email Bio Follow Siobhán O'Grady Siobhán O'Grady WorldViews reporter Email Bio Follow May 7 at 3:11 PM BERLIN — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin on Tuesday.
This week, tensions rose between Iran and the United States after Washington expressed concern about alleged threats against U.S. troops from Iran, and Tehran indicated it may no longer abide by all the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal it struck with world powers. The United States withdrew from the deal last year, but Germany and other European allies still back it. This week, the Pentagon sent a U.S. aircraft carrier and Air Force bombers to the Persian Gulf.
Commentators across the political spectrum were even more explicit. The center-right daily Die Welt noted that the explanation provided for the sudden cancellation was “fuzzy.” German broadcaster N-TV noted that the stakes for the visit had been high and that it had been anticipated “with suspense.” Merkel, the former leader of Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union, and Trump have diverged widely on several major issues. The German leader has a more liberal approach toward immigration, free trade and action on climate change. Many believe she ran for reelection in 2017 in response to Trump’s 2016 win.
At the time, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders denied that the relationship with Merkel was negative, pointing out that on a trip to Brussels, Trump had given the German chancellor “a huge hug, kissed both her cheeks and announced to everyone that he loves her.”
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