US President Joe Biden will seek to strengthen cooperation with key European partners on issues ranging from the war in Ukraine to conflicts in the Middle East during a quick trip to Berlin on Friday.
“The wheels have stopped in Berlin,” Biden wrote in a post on X overnight. “We greet our old friends and stand ready to unite and strengthen our close alliance in the fight against freedom and tyranny around the world.”
Biden, who has sought to improve relations with Europe since President Donald Trump took office from 2017 to 2021, received military honors before receiving Germany's highest medal from President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. You will be welcomed.
The German president's office said the honor recognizes the 81-year-old's “contribution to both German-American friendship and transatlantic ties” in all the positions he has held over the past 50 years.
Biden's overnight trip comes just weeks before the U.S. presidential vote, during which Republican candidate Trump is seeking re-election in a dead heat with Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
Mr. Biden, who withdrew from the race in July in favor of Ms. Harris, is scheduled to meet privately with Prime Minister Olaf Scholz later in the morning on security, trade and other economic issues before lunch.
Later, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron also flew into Berlin to talk about how the fighting, mainly in Ukraine, will end as Russian troops advance east and a harsh winter of blackouts looms. We plan to participate in discussions focusing on
“The important issue is of a security nature and we will talk about that tomorrow,” Macron told reporters on Thursday.
US election looms
Ahead of next month's US presidential election, there is a growing sense of crisis regarding Ukraine as President Trump has indicated that he is becoming more reluctant to continue aid to Kiev.
The fact that Mr. Biden has chosen Berlin for what could be his last trip to Europe as president is evidence of his close working relationship with Mr. Scholz.
Biden built a rapport with Germany early in his term, but the Nord Stream 2 Baltic gas pipeline project, aimed at doubling the flow of Russian gas directly to Germany, remains on the table for some time. Germany's Suda David Wilp said he was pretending. US Marshall Fund.
This close relationship allowed Washington to work closely with Berlin after Russia invaded Ukraine to meet NATO's goal of 2% of GDP while cutting Russian gas imports. Germany's defense spending was quickly increased.
Berlin also played a key role in a major prisoner exchange between Russia and the West in August, when American journalist Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan were arrested. Released from Russian custody.
“This is a thank you tour, but it's also a message: 'Stay the course in Ukraine, no matter what happens,'” David Wilp said.
