German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, on Tuesday reflected on the role of women in politics, in light of Democrats in the US endorsing Kamala Harris as their candidate for president after Joe Biden dropped out.
Germany’s top diplomat said that “a bit too much testosterone is sometimes flying around,” and so “strong women might not do certain situations any harm – but rather good.”
With just over 100 days to go until Harris faces off with Republican nominee Donald Trump, Baerbock said that elections are often “only decided in the final moments.”
A dramatic time lies ahead, “not only for the United States of America, but for us here in Europe, too,” she said – while noting that it was for US citizens to decide their next leader, no matter how interested the rest of the world may be in the outcome.
If Harris wins in November, she will become the first female president in US history.
Baerbock stressed there was a strong level of trust between Berlin and the current president in the White House, emphasizing Biden’s long commitment to the trans-Atlantic relationship.
The fact that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was confronted with such unity and determination on both sides of the Atlantic “was due to this close alliance and, above all, to the personal relationships,” she said.
“I believe that this is often underestimated, especially in turbulent times and in times of social media, hatred and agitation: How important trust is, how important close personal cooperation is in situations that you have never been confronted with before.”
Credit: DPA
