U.S. President Joe Biden is set to visit Germany this week, according to sources in the German government, after postponing his original trip due to the impact of Hurricane Milton. Senior German officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed the rescheduled visit, expected within the coming days, though exact details remain under wraps as planning continues.
German media reports suggest that Biden will meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during his visit to Berlin on Friday. Key topics for discussion are likely to include the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The cancellation of Biden's initial trip had disrupted plans for a summit of the Ramstein group, which includes nations providing military aid to Ukraine. The meeting, originally scheduled at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base, was intended to focus on further military support for Ukraine. It was expected to feature leaders such as U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Biden, along with Scholz and around 20 other global figures. However, it now appears unlikely that such a large-scale summit will take place during Biden’s shortened visit, which was originally set to span four days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was initially expected to present a "victory plan" at the Ramstein summit. When the event was cancelled, Zelenskyy quickly embarked on a tour of European capitals to seek continued support for Ukraine.
In the wake of talks with Zelenskyy last Friday, Chancellor Scholz announced that Germany would provide an additional €1.4 billion in military aid to Ukraine by the end of 2024. This package, to be given in partnership with Belgium, Denmark, and Norway, includes air defense systems, tanks, combat drones, and artillery. Scholz emphasized the west's unwavering support for Ukraine, stating, "It is a clear message to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin – playing for time will not work. We will not let up in our support for Ukraine." Germany remains the second-largest supplier of arms to Ukraine, after the U.S., since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
This upcoming trip will mark Biden’s first bilateral visit to Germany as president. He previously attended the G7 summit at Elmau Castle in Bavaria in June 2022. The original itinerary for the now-cancelled trip also included a visit to Angola, fulfilling Biden’s earlier pledge to visit Africa during his presidency.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre recently acknowledged the challenge of rescheduling such a trip, with only a few months remaining before the U.S. presidential election campaign intensifies. "Three months is not a long time," she remarked.
Biden’s upcoming visit also follows a personal message of gratitude to Scholz in August, after Germany played a pivotal role in a major prisoner exchange with Russia. This exchange included high-profile detainees such as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, secured in part by Berlin’s agreement to release a jailed FSB hitman.
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