Biden Heads to Germany: A Mid-October Diplomatic Mission

Joe Biden was already on German soil as US President, but not for a very bilateral visit. He now wants to make up for that – just before he says goodbye to the White House.

US President Joe Biden is traveling to Germany in mid-October. The White House announced that the 81-year-old is planning a multi-day visit to Germany starting October 10th. The President of the United States will meet with leading German politicians in Germany “to further strengthen the close connection between the United States and Germany as allies and friends and to coordinate on common priorities.” He also plans to express his appreciation to Germany for supporting Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia.

Government headquarters in Washington did not provide any further details about the trip. There was no official information about where the President of the United States would travel – or who he specifically wanted to meet in Germany.

According to information from “Spiegel”, the federal government also plans to invite French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Germany while Biden is in the country. Biden should also plan a visit to the US military base Ramstein. The “Tagesspiegel” had previously reported that Biden wanted to travel to Berlin for three days. The Berlin police are already explaining shift methods and special service.

This would be Biden’s first bilateral visit to Germany in his four-year term in office and the first visit by a US president to Berlin since Barack Obama visited then Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) in the Chancellor on his farewell tour in November 2016.

According to the White House, Biden also wants to reaffirm the commitment of the United States and Germany to democracy and the fight against anti-Semitism and hatred during his visit. Germany contributes to the security of the United States and the entire NATO alliance, he said.

Biden participated in the G7 summit in Elmau in 2022 and on another occasion made a refueling stop with his government plane at the military base in Ramstein. However, there has not yet been a regular bilateral visit.

The 81-year-old will leave his post in January. In July, he withdrew from the election campaign for a second term due to great pressure from his own party and left the field to his deputy Kamala Harris. The background to this was major internal party concerns about his age and mental state.

Before leaving the presidential race, Biden had reduced foreign travel to a minimum because of the election campaign. However, he now has more time for his official business – and is working on his political legacy in the remaining months before he leaves the White House.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz traveled to the US capital several times during the Biden presidency – but always on working visits and not on a state visit, which is accompanied by the pomp of a special protocol.

After his visit to Germany, Biden wants to travel to Angola. The White House says Biden will visit the country October 13-15. Biden had long promised a trip to the African continent, but repeatedly postponed it. Several members of Biden’s cabinet had previously visited various countries on the African continent.