President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany. He congratulated Chancellor Merkel on over 16 years of leadership on issues of importance to our shared security and prosperity and to the Transatlantic relationship. The leaders discussed the situation in Afghanistan, including efforts to ensure continued humanitarian assistance.  President Biden thanked Germany for hosting 35,000 Afghans as they relocated to the United States. In addition, President Biden underscored the importance of continued work to implement the U.S.-Germany Joint Statement on Support for Ukraine and European Energy Security, to ensure that Russia cannot manipulate natural gas flows for harmful political purposes.