German Chancellor Angela Merkel was making the case Tuesday for a global deal on climate change to a sceptical audience: members of Congress.

Merkel was addressing both chambers of Congress, a rare honour extended to Washington’s closest allies and not to a German chancellor since Konrad Adenauer in 1957. She will meet with President Barack Obama before the speech.

It is an opportunity for Germany to make a case to the lawmakers whose support will be crucial if the US is to sign on to a new global climate deal that European leaders and Obama are seeking.

Merkel’s address comes before the 20th anniversary Nov. 9 of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and she also was expected to highlight the trans-Atlantic cooperation that brought it down. The theme of solidarity probably will touch on Germany’s commitment to Afghanistan, a delicate issue for Merkel. The U.S. has urged European countries to step up efforts in NATO’s operations, but the war is unpopular in Germany.

The speech comes less than a week after Merkel was sworn in for a second term. Her formation of a new center-right coalition has created some expectations in Washington that the coalition would make it easier for Merkel to support the US on Afghanistan and other foreign policy issues, including reining in Iran’s nuclear program.

Annette Heuser, executive director of the Bertelsmann Foundation Washington, a nonprofit organization that focuses on trans-Atlantic cooperation, said political pressures in Germany against the war in Afghanistan remain the same for Merkel.

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