Barack Obama showers praise on Germany and its leader

nullUS President Barack Obama visited Germany on 24 April 2016, in what was seen as a celebration of the close relations between the two countries.

Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the state of negotiations relating to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the United States and the European Union. German public opinion was seen as one of the biggest opposers to the trade deal.

The US President also praised Germany's approach regarding the migration crisis.

In a speech given in Hannover on the 25 April 2016 President Obama said that the the US and the wider world needed 'a strong and prosperous and democratic and united Europe', which he described as 'one of the greatest political and economic achievements of modern times'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Attitudes to global trade and TTIP in Germany and the United States http://www.europeansources.info/record/attitudes-to-global-trade-and-ttip-in-germany-and-the-united-states/

ESO: Find further information in ESO on the German migration policy http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=germany%20migration%20policy%20&searchOption=all

EurActiv, 25.04.16: Obama, Merkel make joint pitch for EU-US trade deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/obama-merkel-make-joint-pitch-for-eu-us-trade-deal/

The Wall Street Journal, 24.04.16: Obama’s Trip to Germany Reflects New Closeness http://www.wsj.com/articles/obamas-trip-to-germany-reflects-new-closeness-1461365489

Deutsche Welle, 24.04.16: Obama arrives in Germany for final TTIP trade deal push http://dw.com/p/1IbgD

Euronews, 24.04.16: Protests against TTIP in Germany ahead of Obama’s visit http://www.euronews.com/2016/04/24/protests-against-ttip-in-germany-ahead-of-obama-s-visit/

Foreign Policy, 22.04.16: [Opinion] Why Obama Couldn’t Rescue U.S.-German Relations http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/22/why-obama-couldnt-rescue-u-s-german-relations/

Deutsche Welle, 23.04.16: Obama heads to Hanover to pitch TTIP and talk defense http://dw.com/p/1IbWY

The Wall Street Journal, 24.04.16: Obama, Merkel Urge Action on Trade Agreement http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-merkel-urge-action-on-trade-agreement-1461539882

The New York Times, 23.04.16: Obama Calls Meeting With European Leaders Over Shared Challenges http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/world/europe/obama-calls-meeting-with-european-leaders-over-shared-challenges.html

The Local.de, 24.04.16: German trade deal foes protest on eve of Obama visit http://www.thelocal.de/20160424/german-trade-deal-foes-protest-on-eve-of-obama-visit

The Local.de, 22.04.16: Hanover preps for President Obama's historic visit http://www.thelocal.de/20160422/obama-to-arrive-in-hanover-sunday-to-open-trade-fair

Politico, 22.04.16: America’s spezial relationship http://www.politico.eu/article/americas-special-relationship-germany-barck-obama-angela-merkel-change-suspicion/

BBC News, 23.04.16: TTIP trade deal: Germans rally in Hannover against US-EU talks http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36120560

Deutsche Welle, 23.04.16: TTIP protest in Hanover ahead of Obama visit http://dw.com/p/1IbKM

The New York Times, 24.04.16: Obama Joins Angela Merkel in Pushing Trade Deal to a Wary Germany http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/25/world/europe/wary-of-big-business-germans-protest-trade-deal-as-obama-visits.html

The Local.de, 24.04.16: Obama makes farewell visit to Germany on free trade push http://www.thelocal.de/20160424/obama-makes-farewell-visit-to-germany-on-free-trade-push

ESO: Key Source: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) http://www.europeansources.info/record/transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-ttip/

The Guardian, 24.04.16: Barack Obama hails Angela Merkel over handling of refugees http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/24/migration-crisis-obama-and-eu-leaders-to-discuss-naval-patrols-in-libya

Deutsche Welle, 24.04.16: Barack Obama goes to Hanover: How they made it happen http://dw.com/p/1IbmV

EUObserver, 25.04.16: EU resumes US trade talks after German protests https://euobserver.com/economic/133186

Euro|Topics: Debates, April 2016: Obama and Merkel right to promote TTIP? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/158021/obama-and-merkel-right-to-promote-ttip

The Guardian, 25.04.16: Barack Obama says world needs a united Europe http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/25/barack-obama-says-world-needs-a-united-europe

EUObserver, 25.04.16: Obama urges EU nations to stick together https://euobserver.com/foreign/133200

EurActiv, 26.04.16: Obama says Putin undermines EU unity http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/obama-says-putin-undermines-eu-unity/

EurActiv, 26.04.16: US backs NATO blockade of Libya to close refugee route http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/us-backs-nato-blockade-of-libya-to-close-refugee-route/

US: The White House, 25.04.16: Remarks by President Obama in Address to the People of Europe https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/04/25/remarks-president-obama-address-people-europe

Politico, 24.04.16: Obama ‘confident’ on TTIP as clock runs down http://www.politico.eu/article/obamas-next-stop-germany/

Politico, 29.06.16: Brexit pushes US closer to Germany http://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-pushes-us-closer-to-germany/

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