Berlin. Shortly before the elections, the 81-year-old is making his visit to the German capital. Two more guests from abroad join us.
It won’t be much more than a flying visit, but it’s all about the gesture: US President Joe Biden is expected in Berlin on Thursday and Friday. The 81-year-old wants to say “goodbye” to the Germans in three weeks United States As is well known, presidential elections are taking place. In the German capital, Biden will meet with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) – and two other prominent guests from abroad will be traveling to the occasion. An overview.
Why is Biden coming to Berlin now of all times?
The visit was actually supposed to take place last week and was planned as a state visit – with the appropriate pomp and protocol. But then Biden canceled at short notice because of Hurricane Milton. Now the meeting is being rescheduled, but there is only talk of a “visit”. So it should be much more informal. With his visit at the end of his term of office, the outgoing US President a special honor for the important ally Germany.
What will Biden do in Germany?
The exact visit program has not yet been published – after detailed coordination with the US government, this is primarily for security reasons. Biden’s plane “Air Force One” is expected to land at Berlin’s capital airport BER on Thursday evening. On Friday morning, Federal President Steinmeier will meet the US President Bellevue Castle received with military honors and, after an interview, awarded the highest German honor, the “Special Level of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany”.
This leads to the justification Office of the President from: “The Federal President thus recognizes President Biden’s services to the German-American friendship and the transatlantic alliance, which he has significantly shaped in all his offices over five decades and strengthened, especially in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine.” Biden is only the second US president to receive this award. In 1993, George Bush (senior) received it for his service to German unity.
When does Chancellor Scholz come into play?
After Biden’s appointment with the Federal President. The Chancellor is faced with the task of reconciling the meeting with the US President with other important commitments: the meeting will take place on Thursday and Friday EU autumn summit will take place in Brussels and will focus in particular on the topic of migration.
What other foreign visitors are expected in Berlin?
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are also reportedly scheduled to arrive. So it will be a Four-way meeting from Biden, Scholz, Macron and Starmer.
Capital Inside by Jörg Quoos, editor-in-chief of the FUNKE central editorial team
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The group of four of the most important NATO states is sometimes also referred to as the “European Quad”, for example in connection with supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion. The further course of action regarding Ukraine is likely to play an important role in the talks in Berlin. The four-party meeting, if it takes place, will now also be rescheduled: it was supposed to take place last week. However, a large meeting with other Ukraine supporters and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj at the US air force base in Ramstein, which was also canceled last week, will not now be rescheduled.
What is the relationship between Scholz and Biden?
Extremely tight. The Social Democrat and the US Democrat have a similar view of the world and society and also get along well personally. They always coordinated closely with each other when it came to Ukraine support. Scholz did not take any major steps in arms deliveries without reassuring himself in Washington. Both share the goal that NATO must under no circumstances become a belligerent in the conflict. Scholz gives Biden credit for reviving the transatlantic alliance after the years of the Trump presidency. Biden, in turn, confirmed the German Chancellor several times Leadership – around August, when there was a major international prisoner exchange with Russia, in which the Federal Republic played a key role.
President Joe Biden and Chancellor Olaf Scholz have an excellent relationship with each other. The picture was taken at the G7 summit in Japan in May last year.
© DPA Images | Michael Kappeler
However, German-American relations were not untroubled during the four Biden years. Especially in the important one Trade policy Europeans and Americans didn’t really make any progress. At home, the US President implemented the “Inflation Reduction Act”. This is a gigantic subsidy and economic stimulus program for the domestic economy, but it is also likely to be at the expense of European companies.
How extensive are the security precautions for Biden’s visit?
Berlin is facing two days of a state of emergency. The German police and the American Secret Service will do everything to stop them Security of the guest. Expect snipers on buildings, a massive police presence on the Spree and on the streets, closed airspace, drone defenses and ID checks. The disruption to traffic will be significant – especially in the area between the Brandenburg Gate, the government district and Bellevue Palace. This is expected to affect not only road but also rail traffic.
