President Joe Biden is to host “forward-looking” bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday at the White House during which they’re expected to discuss a host of issues including Nord Stream pipeline, cybersecurity and climate change, Axios reports.
Neither the White House nor Merkel, who’s on what could be her last official visit to Washington, are expecting any agreement on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany – natural gas pipeline that faces strong bipartisan opposition in Washington- to emerge from the meeting despite speculation that such a deal could be close.
A senior administration official noted that the White House wants a deal with Germany that includes concrete mechanisms to ensure that energy is not used as a coercive tool against Ukraine, US eastern flank allies or any other country but pointed they’re not anticipating any formal announcement on Nord Stream.
Merkel confirmed on Wednesday that she plans to discuss Nord Stream with Biden.
Next on the agenda would be the cyberattacks that are believed to be originating from Russia, an issue Biden said he addressed when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Europe last month. Biden also took steps in May in the US to promote cybersecurity, signing an executive order aimed at increasing the cybersecurity of federal agencies and federal contractors.
Aside these two major subjects, the pair are expected to discuss climate change, the COVID-19 vaccine, countering China and Ukraine sovereignty.
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