Germany and the US want to work together closely on current international issues. Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his US counterpart Hillary Clinton agreed on this during an in-depth exchange of views in Washington. Clinton praised Germany as one of the United States' closest partners.

Steinmeier said he was leaving Washington at the end of his one-day visit "without blind euphoria" but confident about the opportunities for cooperation with the new US Administration. Naturally, he went on to say, there would also be differences of opinion with the new Administration but he was pleased with the considerable level of agreement he discovered during his talks on key foreign policy issues.

Focus on current trouble spots

Steinmeier expressed concern about reports on a satellite launch in Iran. "Should the reports on a successful satellite launch by Iran be confirmed, it would be an alarming development and an unsettling indication of Iran's progress in missile technology. That's why we must, with the new US Administration, step up our efforts in the E3+3 to dissuade Iran from developing a nuclear programme which could be used for military purposes." Hillary Clinton said that the international community needed a more effective approach in order to ensure that its expectations of Iran are met.

. . .