U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held talks on Friday (March 3) focused largely on the war in Ukraine, China and other matters, amid signs of strains between the transatlantic partners, Reuters reports.
Sitting next to Scholz in the Oval Office, Biden thanked the German leader for "profound" support on Ukraine and Scholz said it was important to send the message that the support will continue "as long as it takes and as long as is necessary."
Biden hailed Scholz's decision to increase military spending and had worked in lockstep with the United States and other allies to support Ukraine.
The two leaders were expected to meet for an hour, including a one-on-one conversation in the Oval Office. The United States announced a new package of military assistance for Ukraine totaling $400 million as Biden and Scholz met.
Scholz's visit comes as the United States sounds out close allies about the possibility of imposing sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine, according to four U.S. officials and other sources.
Neither Washington nor Berlin say they have seen evidence of Beijing's providing weapons to Moscow, but U.S. officials say they are monitoring the situation closely.
Germany, which has typically taken a much less hawkish stance on China, its top trading partner, than the United States, has suggested China could play a role in bringing about peace - a prospect many China observers view with skepticism.
U.S. officials say Scholz could well raise concerns about U.S. subsidies for climate-friendly technologies under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which Germany argues could put its companies at a disadvantage and contribute to luring firms away.
Critics say the IRA was a slap in the face to Europe from its biggest ally at a time when Europe was already struggling with sharply higher energy prices due to the Ukraine war.
A U.S.-EU task force is continuing to meet on the issue, but Washington insists the tax credits will drive down costs for clean energy globally.
