Obama passes torch to Merkel

US President Barack Obama pays a farewell visit on Thursday to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, seen by some as the new standard bearer of liberal democracy since the election of Donald Trump.

On the last leg of his final European tour as president, Obama will try to ease fears about the future of the transatlantic partnership and thank Merkel for her friendship during his two terms, White House officials said.

In a joint article to coincide with his arrival in Germany, Obama and Merkel appealed for ongoing cooperation on the basis of shared principles to fight climate change, ensure collective defence within Nato, and promote free trade.

"These values of democracy, justice and freedom form the foundation of our successful economies," they wrote in business magazine Wirtschaftswoche.

"We owe it to our industries and our peoples -- indeed, to the global community -- to broaden and deepen our cooperation."

As Western leaders brace for potentially radical changes with Trump moving into the Oval Office in January, Obama wrapped up a visit to Athens Wednesday warning that globalisation required a "course correction" to keep voters from drifting to extremes.

After Trump's shock victory, Merkel as the leader of Europe's top economic power expressed a desire to maintain close ties with Washington.

But in an extraordinary break with tradition for Germany, which long saw the US as its protector and closest ally, Merkel pointedly said cooperation must be based on shared democratic principles and respect for human dignity.

Analysts said the meeting could be seen as a kind of passing of the torch from Obama to Merkel, who the outgoing president has called "probably... my closest international partner".

He and Merkel, who took power in 2005, soon developed a strong partnership, despite rifts over revelations.

Obama dined with Merkel at his hotel late Wednesday and held talks with her yesterday followed by a meeting Friday including the leaders of Britain, France, Italy and Spain.

As he exits the stage, many observers say Merkel's importance as a defender of Western values will only continue to grow, assuming that as expected, she runs for a fourth term next year. "A lot about Europe's future will be determined by whether Germany has a strong leader who wishes to push things forward," said Daniela Schwarzer, director of the German Council on Foreign Relations.