During his visit to Germany, Biden will prioritize the Ukraine war and other global challenges
Biden was originally set to visit Germany earlier this month but postponed the trip due to hurricanes hitting the United States.
President Joe Biden will be heading to Germany on Thursday to address the ongoing war in Ukraine and other international challenges shared between the two nations.
Originally, Biden planned to visit Germany earlier this month but had to delay the visit as hurricanes impacted the United States. The rescheduled trip now provides an opportunity for the president to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a crucial ally in supporting Ukraine against Russia.
During this visit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is rallying for international backing for his “victory plan” to end the war, with Biden discussing the plan in a call on Wednesday. Zelenskyy aims to further discuss the plan with other European leaders this week.
Biden’s original plan for the rescheduled visit included a meeting at an American military base in Germany to discuss the Ukrainian war with other allies and partners. However, this meeting with Ukraine’s international allies will now take place on a virtual call in November.
The conflict in Ukraine is anticipated to be a primary focus of discussion between Biden and Scholz during their meeting.
A senior Biden administration official remarked, “I have no doubt that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, the trajectory of the war, how allies can best support Ukraine, will be a subject of conversation.”
Middle East Conflict
The senior administration official indicated that the president plans to cover various additional topics during his visit, including the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
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Currently, Israeli forces are engaged in military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon, two groups designated as terrorist organizations by many nations worldwide.
Moreover, Israeli forces are bracing for a response following Iranian forces’ launch of ballistic missiles across Israel on Oct. 1.
The official added, “Finding a sustainable diplomatic solution to the current conflicts between Israel and Lebanon, as well as the situation in Gaza and the risk of escalation with Iran, are all crucial matters that leaders will likely address.”
During his time in Germany, Biden is set to introduce a new international exchange program, building upon the commitment to democratic values. This program will focus on aligning private investment with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted Wednesday, ahead of the visit, “The president really wanted to make sure to go to Germany to thank Chancellor Scholz directly.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
