latest developments

German-American Relations 2005

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visits Germany
December 5-6, 2005.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s trip to Europe highlights the enduring importance of trans-Atlantic relations and U.S. efforts to partner with Europe to address common challenges around the globe. Rice travels to Germany, Romania, Ukraine and Belgium on December 5-9. In Germany, Secretary Rice had a first meeting with new German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They talked about Iran, Afghanistan, U.S.-European relations and U.S.-German relations. She also met with German Foreign Minister Steinmeier. more

New U.S. Ambassador William R. Timken Jr. arrived in Germany
August 24, 2005.
The designated Ambassador of the United States of America to the Federal Republic of Germany, William Robert Timken, Jr., arrived in Germany on August 24, 2005. He delivered a short arrival statement. In a ceremony August 15, 2005 in the U.S. State Department's Treaty Room, Ambassador-designate Timken was officially sworn in by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. more

Joint Statement on the First Meeting of the U.S. - Germany Working Group on Energy, Development, and Climate Change
August 12, 2005.
Senior representatives from the United States and Germany met in Berlin on August 12, 2005 to initiate the "U.S.-Germany Working Group on Energy, Development, and Climate Change." This working group is a result of the joint actions on cleaner and more efficient energy, development, and climate change contained in the joint declaration by President George W. Bush and Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in Mainz, Germany on February 23, 2005. English | German (pdf)

Statement of Ambassador-Designate to Germany, William R. "Tim" Timken, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
July 27, 2005.
Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of the Committee, I am honored to appear before you today as the President’s nominee to serve as United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. I am grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by President Bush and Secretary Rice. If confirmed, I look forward to working with members of this Committee and others in Congress to strengthen bilateral relations between Germany and the United States. Full text | German

William Timken To Be Nominated as U.S. Envoy to Germany
July 19, 2005.
The White House announced July 19 that President Bush will nominate William Robert Timken as U.S. ambassador to Germany. Timken is chairman of the Board of Directors of The Timken Company of Canton, Ohio, which manufactures rollers, bearings and other specialty steel products. Biography English | German Full text

President Bush's Visit to Germany
February 23, 2005. In the morning of February 23 President Bush arrived in Germany. In Mainz the President and Chancellor Schröder held a bilateral meeting, followed by a joint press availability. The Chancellor and Mrs. Schröder-Köpf hosted a lunch for the President and Mrs. Bush. In the afternoon, the President participated in a roundtable conversation with German citizens, followed by a visit to the Gutenberg Museum with Mrs. Bush. The President and Mrs. Bush then proceeded to Wiesbaden, where they met members of the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division. more information on the visit

Visit by Secretary of State Rice to Germany
February 4-5, 2005.
Secretary Rice arrived in Berlin in the afternoon of February 4 and met with Chancellor Schröder. After the meeting they held a press conference.

Between February 3rd and February 10th, U.S. Secretary of State Rice visited eight European countries, as well as Israel and the West Bank. The trip came in advance of the President's visit to Europe between February 22nd and 25, so she took this opportunity to advance the President's agenda and the United States agenda in cooperation with our European friends and allies. She visited the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Israel, Italy, France, Belgium and Luxembourg. more