July 10, 2024
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock today in Washington on the margins of the NATO Summit. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Baerbock reaffirmed their ironclad support for Ukraine and discussed challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China, including the PRC’s support for Russia’s military industrial base. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire that would secure the release of hostages and ensure increased deliveries of humanitarian assistance in Gaza, as well as the importance of preventing further escalation in the Middle East and the shared threat posed by Iran. They also discussed progress made towards a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and emphasized the importance of finalizing a deal as soon as possible. The Secretary and Foreign Minister welcomed the announcement of the episodic deployment of conventional U.S. long-range fires in Germany starting in 2026 as part of planning for enduring stationing of these capabilities in the future.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock Before Their Meeting
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. It’s, as always, a great pleasure to be with my colleague and my friend, Annalena Baerbock. We – together the United States and Germany have been confronting the extraordinary challenges to our Alliance, to our people. But the fact that we’re doing it together, the fact that we are such strong partners has been an extraordinary source of strength these past few years. And whether it’s Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, whether it’s challenges in the Middle East, whether it’s the many issues that we’re facing together in the Indo-Pacific, we’re so grateful for the partnership between our countries. This is a good opportunity here at the summit, as we celebrate NATO’s 75th anniversary, as always, to look to the challenges of this moment but also to look forward for the next years. But one thing that gives me tremendous confidence is the partnership, the alliance between the United States and Germany. Good to have you.
FOREIGN MINISTER BAERBOCK: Thank you very much, and congratulations for this very successful summit, and I can only echo what my colleague and dear friend Tony Blinken just said. The last two and a half years with regard to the Russian invasion, but also on the bilateral level, a bit more the cooperation between our two countries was not only cooperation, it was cooperation of friends, of trust, and also of American leadership in a situation where Europe needed its American friends and partners. You were there for us, and therefore we thank you not only for the last years, but also with regard to NATO, obviously also for my own country. This is the cornerstone not only for life insurance but also for reunite – united Germany within Europe.
So thank you for the past and we are looking forward to a common future. Thank you.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Thanks, everyone.