Whither the US-German relationship? Jul 25,2021 - Last updated at Jul 25,2021 BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s farewell visit to the White House this month offers an ideal opportunity to reflect on the state of US-German relations. But it is not a sentimental opportunity. The long, complicated history of the bilateral relationship may be about to enter a new phase. From the aftermath of World War II until Germany’s reunification in 1990, the United States shepherded the country’s reconstruction and economic resurgence. This epoch could be summed up under the heading “Guardian and Ward”, which was far more fortuitous than the preceding chapter, “Enmity and War”.