On October 18, President Joe Biden conducted a planned visit to Germany, which had been postponed due to Hurricane “Milton.” This visit marks the first state visit by a U.S. president to the Federal Republic of Germany since 1985, when former President Ronald Reagan visited Bonn. All subsequent U.S. presidents have also visited Germany, but not in an official capacity or as a state visit.
Biden’s trip to Germany holds particular significance domestically in the United States; it comes amid a heated election campaign featuring two divergent American visions presented by Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris on one side, and former Republican President Donald Trump on the other. These two visions revolve around how to confront international challenges, intensified by the partisan divide over the appropriate response.
During his time in Berlin, Biden met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss a range of issues behind closed doors. These included how to continue supporting Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia since February 24, 2022; the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and Israel’s northern border; and the anticipated Israeli response to the Iranian missile attack on October 1, which heightens the possibility of a regional war.
Objectives of the Visit
Biden’s visit to Germany occurred within a sensitive political and security context, facing numerous international challenges confronting the United States and its European allies. Therefore, the visit focused on several political and strategic objectives reflecting American priorities for the remaining period of Biden’s presidency:
Strengthening Strategic Relations Between Washington and Berlin: A primary goal of Biden’s visit was to bolster bilateral ties between the U.S. and Germany. These relations have spanned decades and are founded on shared democratic values, alongside Germany hosting nearly 39,000 U.S. service members and making vital contributions to NATO security. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier noted Biden’s interest in Germany for over four decades, emphasizing that friendship with the United States will always be significant for Germany. Biden did not wish to complete his term without visiting Berlin, having already visited other key U.S. allies in Europe and Asia, including Japan, South Korea, France, India, the UK, Poland, and Ukraine.
Consolidating Economic Ties Between the U.S. and Germany: Germany is the largest trading partner of the United States in Europe, with bilateral trade exceeding 324billioningoodsandserviceslastyear.AmericandirectinvestmentinGermanyreached324billioningoodsandserviceslastyear.AmericandirectinvestmentinGermanyreached193.2 billion in 2023, with German companies employing approximately 923,600 people in the U.S. Germany is a crucial source of foreign investment in the United States and the leading foreign investor in American renewable energy projects, with German investments valued at over $660 billion based on 2023 data. During Biden’s visit to Berlin, the importance of enhancing economic and technological cooperation between the two allies was reaffirmed.
American Desire for Germany to Take on European Security Responsibilities: Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 5, there is an American trend to transfer the responsibility for maintaining European security to U.S. partners in Europe, primarily Berlin, to serve as the defender of European security. This comes at a time when European security faces unprecedented threats not seen since the end of World War II in 1945, particularly with the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, which is set to enter its third year in February 2025. Meanwhile, successive Republican and Democratic U.S. administrations have redirected strategic American interest towards the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s ascent as the primary revisionist power in the liberal international order established by Washington. Consequently, expectations are rising within the United States for major European countries, prominently Germany, to shoulder more responsibility in Europe and address many rising international security challenges. Biden and Scholz discussed the issue of Europe taking on greater security and defense responsibilities, especially as Berlin plays a pivotal role in supporting NATO’s eastern flank and training Ukrainian soldiers.
Discussing Efforts to De-escalate Tensions in the Middle East: The announcement by Israel on October 17, 2024, regarding the assassination of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, during a military operation coinciding with Biden’s visit to Germany, placed the issue of de-escalating tensions in the Middle East, achieving a ceasefire, and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas on the agenda of Biden’s meetings with U.S. European allies—who share an interest in de-escalating tensions and preventing them from escalating into a regional war. During his visit, Biden expressed hope for renewed momentum towards a ceasefire in Gaza following Sinwar’s assassination, which was believed to be the architect of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. He urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “make this moment also an opportunity to seek a path to peace and a better future in Gaza without Hamas.” Scholz mentioned that following Sinwar’s death, “we hope it opens up prospects for a ceasefire and an agreement for the release of hostages in Gaza.”
Strengthening Western Support for Ukraine: Continued Western support, led by the United States, for Ukraine aims to enhance its defensive capabilities against Russian military attacks and prevent Moscow from gaining a military victory that would strengthen its negotiating position. There remains a firm belief in the U.S. and among Western allies that the Russian-Ukrainian war will not end through military action but rather through negotiations, especially after Ukrainian President Zelensky presented his plan for victory. This represents a strategic priority for Biden during his visit to Germany and his meetings with Scholz, Macron, and Starmer. Biden emphasized the necessity of continuing military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia until a just and sustainable peace is achieved. Coordination with Germany regarding military assistance to Ukraine was also highlighted. The visit served as a clear political message to Russia that the United States and its European allies will not waver in supporting Ukraine, despite facing financial and logistical challenges.
Message of Transatlantic Alliance Unity: Biden’s visit to Berlin just days before the U.S. presidential elections scheduled for November, amid European concerns about a potential victory by former President Trump, who could impact the transatlantic alliance, aimed to strengthen transatlantic relations. This visit extends Biden’s efforts to enhance ties with European nations, particularly Germany, which represents a cornerstone of European security. Observers note that Biden seeks to reassure European allies regarding Washington’s continued commitment to collective security, especially given the potential political shifts in the U.S. as the 2024 presidential elections approach.
Domestic U.S. Message About Continued Support for Ukraine: Biden’s visit to Germany occurs against the backdrop of intense debate within the U.S. Congress between Democrats and Republicans regarding the continuation of military support for Ukraine, especially with several Republican leaders announcing their opposition to further American assistance to Kyiv. Consequently, this visit also reflects an internal dimension; Biden aims to convey a message to Congress and the American public about the importance of sustaining support for Ukraine. This message comes at a time when that support faces increasing scrutiny within the United States due to its political and financial costs. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in July found that 63% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters believe the U.S. has a responsibility to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia, while only 36% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters express the same view. Biden seeks to position himself as a president committed to international alliances, thereby bolstering his standing in the face of growing criticism within the United States over the level of support provided to Ukraine.
Reflective Implications
Biden’s visit to Germany amid escalating international tensions—particularly with the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and developments in the Middle East, which threaten to spark a regional conflict with ramifications beyond the region—carries several implications, the most notable of which include:
Continuity of Positions Between the U.S. and Germany: Germany is one of America’s key European partners, especially with both allies aligned on many international issues and conflicts. Washington and Berlin are among the foremost Western supporters of Ukraine in its war against Russia since February 24, 2022, and both have affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Additionally, they both face similar domestic challenges, currently marked by political division and stringent immigration policies along border security, particularly as Berlin has recently raised the issue of border surveillance with its neighboring European countries.
Solidifying Biden’s Legacy as a “Transatlantic President”: Some view Biden as the last “transatlantic president” due to his long history of supporting European alliances. There are concerns that this focus may shift in the future as the U.S. increasingly concentrates on issues in Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, potentially exerting greater pressure on Europe to manage its own security issues amid the geopolitical transformations pushing the U.S. to refocus on the region and counter the rise of China as a competitor.
Democratic Policies Differing from Previous Republican Administration: The visit, nearing the end of Biden’s presidential term, reaffirmed significant differences between the Democratic administration’s approach compared to the previous Republican administration, particularly regarding the transatlantic alliance. These differences are highlighted by the current electoral competition between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump. Biden’s visit underscored sharp contrasts with Trump’s administration, particularly over defense spending, and demonstrated Biden’s commitment to maintaining strong relations with Germany, including overturning Trump’s previous decisions regarding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from German territory.
German Appreciation for Biden’s Efforts to Enhance Transatlantic Relations: During his visit, Biden was awarded Germany’s highest civilian honor, reflecting Germany’s recognition of his efforts to strengthen transatlantic relations, making him the first U.S. president since George H.W. Bush to receive the Grand Cross of Merit from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. This honor underscores Biden’s confidence in Germany; according to a Pew Research Center survey on Biden’s approval in 34 countries published on June 11, 2024, 63% of Germans expressed confidence in his leadership.
U.S. Administration’s Focus on Smaller Alliances: In addition to focusing on forming a coalition of European powers to confront the Russian threat, the quadrilateral meeting Biden held during his visit to Germany reflects the U.S. administration’s approach of building smaller alliances of like-minded nations to foster consensus amid the rising populist tide on both sides of the Atlantic. The Biden administration has employed this approach to rally support for sanctions against Russia and Iran, as well as tariffs and export controls against China, which recently supplanted the U.S. as Germany’s largest trading partner, along with hundreds of billions in investments in infrastructure in Africa and Southeast Asia aimed at building a barrier against China’s rising soft power.
Final Stop
President Biden’s visit to Germany, as his presidential term approaches its conclusion, is part of his political legacy focused on rebuilding international alliances and strengthening the rule-based liberal international order. This visit may stand as one of the final milestones of his presidency, illustrating his desire to cement sustainable partnerships between the U.S. and Europe in addressing current and future global challenges and to establish his legacy as a transatlantic president amid the forthcoming challenges facing both the United States and Europe.
