First phone call: Merkel invites Biden to Germany

Chancellor Merkel and the new US president, Biden, spoke by phone. Merkel congratulated the Democrat on taking office, welcomed the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement and the WHO, and invited him to Germany.

Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated the new president of the United States, Joe Biden, on his inauguration. He secured the cooperation of Biden Germany to overcome international challenges, said government spokesman Steffen Seibert.

The chancellor and the president agreed that it was necessary to increase international efforts to deal with the crown pandemic. Consequently, Merkel welcomed the return of the United States to the World Health Organization (WHO). Germany stands ready to take responsibility for tackling international tasks together with its European and transatlantic partners.

Other topics: Afghanistan and Iran

Other topics of conversation were foreign policy issues, especially Afghanistan and Iran, as well as trade and climate policy. Merkel also welcomed the decision to return the United States to the Paris climate agreement.

The chancellor also invited Biden to visit Germany as soon as the pandemic situation allowed.

Biden had already telephoned British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday.