President Joe Biden is scheduled to travel to Germany this week and Angola in December, rescheduling visits that were delayed due to his monitoring of the federal response to Hurricane Milton in Florida. The White House confirmed that Biden will depart for Berlin on Thursday to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss their countries’ support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Originally, Biden was supposed to have a meeting on the war in Ukraine with allied nations at an American military base in Germany before heading to Angola. However, the gathering will now take place virtually next month. Despite this change, the war in Ukraine will remain a key topic during Biden’s time in Berlin.
During a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, they discussed Zelenskyy’s “victory plan,” which includes Ukraine’s potential NATO membership and the use of Western-supplied missiles to target Russian military sites. The Biden administration also announced an additional $425 million in military assistance to Ukraine to support its defense efforts.
The trip to Germany is significant for Biden as he wants to thank Chancellor Scholz for Germany’s assistance with a recent hostage swap with Russia. Scholz expressed his gratitude for the collaboration with Biden and emphasized the importance of their continued cooperation on geopolitical priorities.
Looking ahead to the U.S. presidential election, there is uncertainty in Europe about the impact on Ukraine. Vice President Kamala Harris has advocated for strong support for Ukraine, while Republican candidate Donald Trump has proposed ending the conflict with Russia quickly.
In addition to his visit to Germany, Biden will travel to Angola in December to recognize the country as a strategic partner and discuss collaboration on security, health, and economic partnerships. This visit will mark Biden’s first trip to Africa since taking office in early 2021.
Overall, Biden’s upcoming travels highlight the importance of international cooperation and support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The visits to Germany and Angola underscore the administration’s commitment to strengthening relationships with key allies and partners around the world.
