EN
American-German relations have undergone palpable metamorphosis in the last twenty years. On the one hand it results from the united Germany's growing importance on the international arena, a conviction that Germany is becoming a 'normal' state that articulates its national interests with greater confidence and often independently of American expectations. On the other hand, we have witnessed the emergence of new determinants of America's position and role in the world. The image of the United States - especially during the presidency of G. W. Bush - was markedly impaired, which even led to a 'poisoning' of mutual relations between the two countries and eventually changed their character. Germany became a more independent partner, respected in Washington.