Hanover (Germany) : U.S. President Barack Obama will be visiting Germany today to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on various issues, including bilateral trade and security crises in the Middle East.
The visit will be his last stop on a six-day foreign journey where the leaders would be discussing on improving trade ties between the two countries, issue of Islamic State militants and the offset of Russian aggression in Ukraine and Syria.
As he lands in Hanover, he will be touring and speaking at a massive industrial trade fair.
According to the New York Times, Obama’s reception at the industrial fair is likely to be more polite.
Ahead of his visit, Volkswagen, Siemens and other successful German companies all export-driven, showed off their latest contributions to keep up with the digital transformation of industries. Volkswagen remained undeterred despite its scandal on lies about emissions from its diesel vehicles in the United States and eagerly anticipation of the fair’s opening today.
Obama and Merkel would like to get into the U.S.-European free trade agreement, which many say could boost the economy of both sides by about $100 billion.
Obama’s visit, however, did not seem to impress tens of thousands of protestors, who gathered in Hanover’s Opera Square yesterday against the proposed trans-Atlantic trade deal between Europe and the United States, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
Germany depends on the United States for exports and security. However, many Germans do not consider the free trade agreement as a good thing.
The visiting President and the Chancellor are trying to wrap up complex talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) before Obama leaves his office.
Before his departure to Washington on Monday, he along with Merkel is expected to meet European leaders and hold talks on security in wake of the recent attacks in France and Belgium.
Obama and Merkel are also set to talk on solutions for the political settlement in Syria.
Obama had earlier lauded Merkel’s “real political and moral leadership” in welcoming about a million refugees last year, reports New York Times. (ANI)