German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is also presently the EU and G-8 president, has big plans for relations between the United States and Europe. Three weeks ago, Chancellor Merkel met with U.S. President George Bush to discuss, among other things, a Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement, reported United Press International. The January 4 article said Merkel proposed ideas that go beyond “removing more trade barriers to creating a transatlantic free-trade zone.”

Chancellor Merkel is looking to repair the damage to the “Atlantic Bridge” caused by differences of European and American opinion, specifically on Iraq, wrote Spiegel Online. The logic of such a decision is clear: “The U.S. and the EU share—economically at least—more common interests than differences, and merging the economies could help buffer both sides of the Atlantic from the negative effects of globalization. By creating joint standards, innovations and policies, it would also help to level the playing field with low-wage, newly industrialized nations like China and India” (January 4). As Süddeutsche Zeitung reported, Merkel is capitalizing on the “common interests that make the Europeans and the Americans natural partners.”

Though the emerging threat of Asian economic domination may provide some motivation, a European Union and U.S. partnership is still a bold idea. Merkel’s positive stance toward America as an ally is something rare in European politics, even if the alliance is only economic. A similar idea already failed a few years ago when France derailed it. But Merkel’s power position lends weight to her ideas. The chancellor’s proposal certainly shows a willingness to extend a friendly hand to America. With its economic future looking unstable, America may be eager to hook up with Europe.

The Trumpet has for some years foretold of the rekindling of a romance between Germany and the U.S. This is based on a striking prophecy delivered by the Prophet Ezekiel, who describes a “lover” relationship between the two peoples. In the end, America will regret its having trusted so implicitly in a foreign nation rather than in God: Ezekiel warns that Germany, after gaining America’s trust and support, will betray America. To learn more about this biblical forecast, read our book Ezekiel: The End-Time Prophet.