US Consul General Preeti V. Shah visits Münster: A sign of solidarity!

US Consul General Preeti V. Shah visits Münster: A sign of solidarity!

On May 12, 2025, Münster Mayor Markus Lewe received US Consul General Preeti V. Shah for her inaugural visit. Shah, who has been in office in Düsseldorf since August 2024, placed particular emphasis on the important transatlantic partnership between the USA and Germany. This demonstrates the commitment of both sides to strengthen and expand existing relationships. The visit is a symbol of the growing connection between Münster and the USA, an aspect that was highlighted several times in the conversations between Lewe and Shah presse-service.de reported.

The history of the partnership between Münster and the US city of Fresno goes back to the 1980s. Official contacts were initiated by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in San Francisco before the partnership was sealed in July 1986 in the Münster town hall. The focus of this partnership was initially on promoting youth exchange and has since expanded to many other areas, such as the city of Münster in its City portal documented.

Excellent cooperation in the areas of education and culture

The cooperation between Münster and Fresno is strengthened through various initiatives, such as regular student exchange programs and citizen trips. Under the umbrella of the partnership associations and the “Sister Cities Committee”, an active exchange between universities and encounters in the areas of music and sport are organized. An outstanding example of this collaboration is the connection between the 1. AFC Münster Mammuts e.V. and the American football team at Bullard High School in Fresno. Projects like “Touchdown in Fresno” promote exchanges between youth players and coaches.

The infrastructural similarities between the two cities also support the close connection. Both Münster and Fresno function as administrative, commercial and service centers, although the rural surrounding areas in Fresno are heavily influenced by agriculture. This includes the cultivation of cotton, wine, almonds and plums.

Strengthen transatlantic relations

Shah's visit not only demonstrates the close bilateral connection but is also part of the larger transatlantic cooperation characterized by decades of shared values ​​and interests. According to that Foreign Office The relationships between Germany, the USA and Canada are based on historical experiences and similarities in peace, democracy and human rights. In addition, transatlantic cooperation became more important in times of crisis in order to ensure a stable and rules-based international order.

This transatlantic coordination has proven to be particularly important in recent years, especially in light of current global challenges, such as the Russian attack on Ukraine and the need for common solutions in the areas of climate protection and sustainable energy transition.

Although the town twinning between Münster and Fresno has existed since the 1980s, Preeti V. Shah's visit shows that mutual exchange and cooperation should continue to be promoted in the future.