Obama gets rock-star welcome in Berlin
The former US president calls on youth to commit to helping make the world a better place
Barack Obama received a rock-star welcome in Berlin as he appeared at a public debate yesterday with Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom he praised as one of his “favourite partners” during his presidency.
Security was tight in front of the German capital’s Brandenburg Gate, where the former US president and Merkel appeared on a podium before tens of thousands of people attending a gathering marking the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. All visitors had their bags searched, police helicopters patrolled the skies and snipers with balaclavas watched the scene from nearby rooftops.
At the beginning of their discussion, Obama praised Merkel to the excited cheers of a crowd of young Protestants, who had travelled from all over Germany and beyond to attend the religious gathering.
“Not only do I love this city, but one of my favourite partners throughout my presidency is sitting next to me,” Obama said with a big smile. Merkel smiled right back at him. “Chancellor Merkel has done outstanding work, not just here in Germany, but around the world,” Obama said.
After lauding Merkel, he launched a defence of his own presidency and the values of liberal democracy championed by both leaders.
Citing the rise of nationalism and xenophobia in parts of the world, Obama told the crowd that “we have to push back against those trends that would violate human rights or suppress democracy or restrict individual freedoms.”
In a veiled reference to his successor Donald Trump, who has proposed to cut support for diplomacy and international aid by nearly a third, Obama said those programmes are essential aspects of national security policy.
“We can’t isolate ourselves. We can’t hide behind a wall,” he said.