During my first visit to Washington in my new role as Transatlantic Coordinator, my aim is to draw attention to the importance and value of our partnership for both sides in what are turbulent times for transatlantic relations.

Not least in organising Deutschlandjahr USA, a year of German events in the United States, we are providing concrete ways to engage in close and wide-ranging dialogue on topics of interests to both sides. The German‑US conference that I will attend with other colleagues from the German Bundestag is a good forum for intensive and at times contentious exchange on – to name just two examples – free trade and our approach to countries such as China, Russia and Iran.

I also plan to continue this exchange in numerous meetings with senior government officials, Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and businesspeople.