Dear Readers,
In mid-April, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made an inaugural visit to China, South Korea and Japan, which hosted the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. In a meeting with China’s Foreign Minister, Minister Baerbock received assurance that China will not send weapons to Russia. She also urged her counterpart to do more: “Frankly, I wonder why the Chinese positioning does not include calling on the aggressor Russia to stop the war,” she said.
Meanwhile, the recent crisis in Sudan led to the need for evacuations: as of April 26, German Armed Forces have evacuated over 700 people from Sudan, more than two-thirds of whom were friends and allies from other countries, including the US. "Solidarity counts most in a time of crisis," German Ambassador Emily Haber wrote on Twitter. The people of Sudan will also have Germany's support in their long-sought journey towards democracy.
And earlier this month, we reflected on an important anniversary: April 19 marked the 80th anniversary of the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto - the largest armed act of resistance by Jews against the Nazis in Europe. It reminds us of the horrors of the Nazis, and the courage of those who resisted. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivered an address at the central commemorative event marking the anniversary. "The most important lesson to be learned from our history is: Never again! Never again racist fanaticism, never again unbridled nationalism, never again a barbaric war of aggression. Never again - this is the basis of our shared Europe."
And lastly, the climate continued to be a major topic in Germany this month. The Federal Cabinet adopted a draft law called the Energy Efficiency Act, which sets targets of 2% total annual energy savings for the public sector. The new Building Energy Act will also address the climate; this legislation requires newly installed heating systems to be powered by at least 65% renewable energy sources, starting in 2024.
Yours,
The "Germany for Americans" team |