President Biden’s planned visit to Germany, which initially included military parades in Berlin and a Ukraine summit at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base, was rescheduled due to Hurricane Milton. Despite the changes, Biden is set to travel to Berlin on Thursday. The trip, though less ceremonial, remains significant politically, particularly for Berlin and Europe.
While the original visit would have included military displays as a gesture of thanks to Biden, it also targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin. This level of ceremony had not been seen since Ronald Reagan’s visit to Berlin in 1987, where he delivered the famous “tear down this wall” speech. Daniela Schwarzer of the Bertelsmann Foundation notes that Biden’s meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz still sends a strong message to Moscow regarding Western commitment to Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion.
Biden and Scholz plan to discuss Ukraine and the Middle East with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The trip also carries domestic implications, as Biden aims to emphasize the importance of U.S. support for Ukraine to Congress. Additionally, discussions with Scholz are expected to include Europe’s role in supporting Ukraine more extensively.
However, the rescheduling led to the cancellation of a Ramstein meeting intended to secure more weapons pledges for Ukraine. Biden assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of continued support, announcing a $425 million security assistance package.
The trip occurs shortly before the U.S. election, marking Biden’s farewell as President. Norbert Röttgen of the German parliament remarks that Biden represents the end of an era as Europe faces renewed conflict. Berlin is hesitant to lose a President dedicated to trans-Atlantic relations and cooperative efforts with NATO and Europe. Additionally, concerns are rising over possible threats from Russia towards NATO by 2030, prompting calls for stronger responses from Scholz’s government.
The swift rescheduling of Biden’s visit surprised Berlin. Schwarzer suggests that while Scholz benefits from the visit, he faces a complicated scenario. With Biden departing from global politics, and U.S. support becoming uncertain, Scholz may face increased pressure to negotiate with Putin amid demands from certain political factions in Germany.
Scholz also faces criticism for his agreement to host U.S. missiles in Germany, with public opinion divided on the decision. Additionally, following Zelenskyy’s visit to Berlin, Scholz pledged significant military aid to Ukraine, facing criticism for both aiding Ukraine too much and not enough. This situation is compounded by the prospect of needing to make decisions without consistent U.S. input.
Biden’s visit highlights a potential shift in trans-Atlantic relations. Schwarzer indicates that Europe, even with a potential Kamala Harris presidency, might not receive the same focus from Washington. Concerns in Berlin are mounting over a possible return of Donald Trump to the presidency, which could challenge NATO’s credibility.
