WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden values diplomacy as rooted in personal connections, which highlights his upcoming visit to Berlin to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as his administration nears its conclusion.
The visit will also feature discussions with other leaders from the “European Quad,” consisting of Biden, Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized Biden’s strong rapport with Scholz, particularly citing Scholz’s role earlier this year in facilitating a significant multi-national prisoner exchange that successfully returned U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan. Scholz had expressed his commitment to Biden by stating something akin to, “For you, I will do this.”
Jean-Pierre noted during a briefing that Biden and Scholz have collaborated closely to bolster their economies and provide essential support to Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression. She indicated that the president is determined to thank Chancellor Scholz personally during this visit.
However, Biden’s journey starting Thursday is far from merely a friendly excursion. The United States and Germany are the two largest contributors of aid to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. With the U.S. presidential election looming in under three weeks, Biden is keenly aware of the necessity to prepare allies for the potential return of Republican Donald Trump to office, a figure known for his contentious stance toward U.S. allies and his sympathetic demeanor towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While in Europe, Biden does not have any scheduled meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although they communicated on Wednesday regarding further military assistance. The White House announced a new package worth $425 million, bringing the total American support for Ukraine to over $64 billion within the last two and a half years.
In addition to discussions about Ukraine, Biden and Scholz plan to touch upon various topics including the European Union’s dynamics, democratic principles, trade and technological matters, global supply chain issues, Middle East tensions, and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Biden’s itinerary in Germany also includes a meeting with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Earlier this month, Biden postponed a trip originally slated for Germany and Angola to oversee hurricane relief efforts in Florida. He now intends to visit Angola in December.
This journey to Germany aligns with Vice President Kamala Harris’s dynamic campaign efforts aimed at rallying voters in what might be a pivotal election for Biden’s legacy of enhancing NATO relations and countering China’s influence in Asia.
Trump has raised doubts about America’s dedication to defending NATO allies in potential conflicts, a stance Biden described as “un-American” back in February. “The entire world heard it, and the worst part is he genuinely believes it,” Biden commented.
Trump has expressed intentions to impose tariffs on imports from U.S. allies in Europe and Asia, raising concerns about the implications this could have on relationships crucial for balancing against rivals like Russia and China. “Our allies have taken more advantage of us than our enemies have,” Trump stated recently at the Economic Club of Chicago.
While Trump refrained from confirming ongoing conversations with Putin post-2020 election, he remarked that it wouldn’t be detrimental if they were in contact. Bob Woodward’s recent book “War” mentions that Trump and Putin have had seven discussions. “If I did, I would say it’s a smart move,” Trump noted. “Having friendly relations is beneficial, not detrimental for a country.”
