B.Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has arrived in New York for a three-day visit, which will focus on a speech before the UN General Assembly. He also wants to take part in a food security summit and hold several bilateral talks, including with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
For the 64-year-old SPD politician, according to information from those around him, it is his first visit to the world metropolis. Although he has often been to the United States privately and for business, he has never been to New York, the most populous city in the United States.
In addition to his political commitments, a tourist appointment is exceptionally on the Chancellor’s agenda. Writer Daniel Kehlmann (“Measuring the World”), who lives between Berlin and New York, wants to show him the city during a walk on Tuesday afternoon.
Speech at the 77th General Debate of the United Nations
The highlight of the visit, however, will be the speech at the UN general debate, which Scholz will give on Tuesday evening (local time). The chancellor wanted to offer answers on what the “turning point” triggered by the Russian aggressive war against Ukraine could mean for the United Nations, according to sources close to him. In view of the General Assembly, Scholz had deliberately phoned both President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent days.
Talks with Erdogan are likely to concern the planned NATO membership of Finland and Sweden, which has yet to be ratified by Turkey. It could also be the dispute between Greece and Turkey over territorial claims in the eastern Mediterranean and, last but not least, the relationship between Turkey and Russia. Erdogan announced on Saturday after attending a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit that he would join the group of states. Its largest and most powerful members are China and Russia.
Baerbock is also on his way to New York
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Verdi) is also expected in New York on Tuesday. As the chancellor travels on a government plane, the minister flies in line. So far a joint appointment is planned for the two: Wednesday a meeting with representatives of Jewish organizations.
Differences between Scholz and Baerbock in matters of arms deliveries to Ukraine had recently emerged. The foreign minister had called for a quick decision on the delivery of the main tanks to Ukraine, while Scholz expressed reservations. However, they both agree that Germany shouldn’t do it alone.
–
