FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Germany
continues to emphasize close ties with the United States, membership
in NATO, and the "deepening" of integration among current
members of the EU. The Federal Republic of Germany took part in
all of the joint postwar efforts aimed at closer political, economic,
and defense cooperation among the countries of western Europe.
Germany has been a large net contributor to the EU budget. Germany
also is a strong supporter of the United Nations and of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
During
the postwar era, the Federal Republic of Germany also sought to
improve its relationship with the countries of eastern Europe,
first establishing trade agreements and, subsequently, diplomatic
relations. With unification, German relations with the new democracies
in central and eastern Europe intensified. On November 14, 1990,
Germany and Poland signed a treaty confirming the Oder-Neisse
border. They also concluded a cooperation treaty on June 17, 1991.
Germany concluded four treaties with the Soviet Union covering
the overall bilateral relationship, economic relations, the withdrawal
of Soviet troops from the territory of the former G.D.R., and
German support for those troops. Russia accepted obligations under
these treaties as successor to the Soviet Union. Germany continues
to be active economically in the states of central and eastern
Europe and to actively support the development of democratic institutions,
bilaterally and through the EU.
U.S.-GERMAN
RELATIONS
U.S.-German relations have been a focal point of American involvement
in Europe since the end of World War II. Germany stands at the
center of European affairs and is a key partner in U.S. relations
with Europeans in NATO and the European Union.
German-American
ties extend back to the colonial era. More than 7 million Germans
have immigrated over the last three centuries, and today nearly
a quarter of U.S. citizens claim German ancestry. In recognition
of this heritage and the importance of modern-day U.S.-German
ties, the U.S. President annually has proclaimed October 6, the
date the first German immigrants arrived in 1623, to be "German-American
Day."
U.S. policy toward Germany remains the preservation and consolidation of a close and vital relationship with Germany, not only as friends and trading partners, but also as allies sharing common institutions. During the 45 years in which Germany was divided, the U.S. role in Berlin and the large American military presence in West Germany served as symbols of the U.S. commitment to preserving peace and security in Europe. Since German unification, the U.S. commitment to these goals has not changed. The U.S. made significant reductions in its troop levels in Germany after the Cold War ended, and, on July 12, 1994, President Clinton "cased the colors" at the Berlin Brigade's deactivation ceremony. The U.S., however, continues to recognize that the security and prosperity of the United States and Germany significantly depend on each other.
As allies in NATO, the United States and Germany work side by side to maintain peace and freedom. This unity and resolve made possible the successful conclusion of the 1987 U.S.-U.S.S.R. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), the Two-plus-Four process--which led to the Final Settlement Treaty--and the November 1990 Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty.
More recently, the two allies have cooperated closely in peacekeeping efforts in the Balkans and have worked together to encourage the evolution of open and democratic states throughout central and eastern Europe. Germany is also a strong contributor to our common effort to secure peace and stability in Afghanistan, providing some 3,500 military personnel to the NATO ISAF mission, making it the third-largest troop contributor after the U.S. and the U.K. Germany currently commands ISAF's northern region (RC-North) where it leads two of the five provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) as well as the forward support base. Under a new parliamentary mandate approved in October 2008, the troop ceiling for German forces in Afghanistan was increased from 3,500 to 4,500.
The Bundeswehr is in the process of transforming itself from a purely territorial defense force, as it was during the Cold War, into an expeditionary force capable of deploying up to 14,000 soldiers at a time. Currently, Germany has some 7,000 soldiers on deployments outside NATO territory. In addition to the troops in ISAF, Germany has more than 2,000 military personnel in the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) and contributes troops to the European Union Force in Bosnia, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, and the UN missions in Sudan, Georgia, and Ethiopia.
Following
the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New
York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC, Germany has been
a reliable U.S. ally in the campaign against terrorism. As two
of the world's leading trading nations, the United States and
Germany share a common, deep-seated commitment to an open and
expanding world economy. Personal ties between the United States
and Germany extend beyond immigration to include intensive foreign
exchange programs, booming tourism in both directions, and the
presence in Germany of large numbers of American military personnel
and their dependents.
The United
States and Germany have built a solid foundation of bilateral
cooperation in a relationship that has changed significantly over
nearly six decades. The historic unification of Germany and the
role the United States played in that process have served to strengthen
ties between the two countries.
German-American
political, economic, and security relationships continue to be
based on close consultation and coordination at the most senior
levels. High-level visits take place frequently, and the United
States and Germany cooperate actively in international forums.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--vacant
Deputy Chief of Mission--John M. Koenig
Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs--George F. Ruffner
Minister-Counselor for Consular Affairs--David C. Stewart
Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs--Robert A. Pollard (arrival August 2007)
Minister-Counselor for Management--Jay N. Anania
Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs--John K. Bauman
Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs--Helena Finn (arrival August 2007)
Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation--Col. Dan J. Stiver
Defense Attaché--Col. David L. Allwine
The U.S. Embassy in Germany is located at Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5 10117 Berlin.
