President Obama and German Chancellor Andrea Merkel glossed over their differences on the Libya intervention Tuesday to present a united front during an extravagant White House visit centered around talk of economic recovery. Facing mounting criticism about his handling of the economy, Obama sought to appear both mindful and in control of what is clearly the overriding issue for the voters he’ll face next year.
“I’m not concerned about a double-dip recession,” he said during a joint East Room appearance with Merkel. “I am concerned about the fact that the recovery that we’re on is not producing jobs as quickly as I want it to happen.”
Obama used the Merkel appearance — the first official state visit by a European leader he’s hosted — to showcase the parallels between the two countries, arguing their alliance is essential to global prosperity despite their economic vulnerabilities.
Merkel, like Obama, has been forced to defend her use of bailouts amid mounting financial crises. Germans have become increasingly critical of the chancellor for rushing to the aid of Greece, arguing it was not the country’s role to act as the economic savior for other European nations.
“We think it would be disastrous for us to see an uncontrolled spiral and default in Europe, because that could trigger a whole range of other events,” Obama said in Merkel’s defense.
The visit allowed Obama to seek assurances that the U.S. and German interests are now aligned on the NATO-led intervention of Libya and as political upheaval sweeps the Middle East and North Africa.
The White House hoped that awarding Merkel the Presidential Medal of Freedom and throwing a state dinner in the chancellor’s honor would improve a relationship somewhat strained recently when Germany abstained on a vote to back a no-fly zone over Libya.
Obama enjoys widespread popularity in Germany, where his 2008 speech as a presidential candidate drew adoring masses in the streets of Berlin. And for Merkel, time with Obama is sure to play well back home.
Early Tuesday, Merkel was greeted on the White House lawn with cannon shots and military bands, getting the royal treatment on a sweltering day in the nation’s capital.
“Sometimes there may be differences of opinion … there will be areas in the world where we shoulder different responsibilities,” Merkel said. “Partners are doing together with others things that we believe can be useful.”
In addition to the global economy and Arab Spring, the leaders discussed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the possibility of additional sanctions against Iran.
Both urged Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi to leave power, and on Afghanistan, where Obama is mulling troop reductions, Merkel said, “We wish to go in together, out together.”
However, the economy was clearly the dominant issue as both sought to demonstrate that their like-minded actions helped ward off perilous results.
“People on both sides of the Atlantic are understandably frustrated with the ups and downs of the world economy,” Obama said. “It’s just very important for folks to remember how close we came to complete disaster.”
