He offered German aid to Iraq, and German homes for some of the Guantanamo Bay detainees in the letter, published in the newsmagazine Der Spiegel. Steinmeier was in Cairo on Saturday and bound for Jerusalem on Sunday on a Mideast peace mission.

In the open letter to Obama, Steinmeier wrote, "Let's write a new trans-Atlantic agenda and infuse life into it."

He called for a reform, "reorientation" and "honest discussion of missions" in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

He repeated past offers from Germany to help close the Guantanamo Bay detention center on Cuba by offering homes to former detainees.

Steinmeier said Berlin could also increase its contribution to creating stable, democratic public services in Iraq, "especially in the areas of health care and education. As to where and exactly how, I'll be having a look soon on site."

The minister called on Obama to alter the US relationship with Russia and set up joint steps towards disarmament.