Biden is traveling briefly to Germany before the US election to discuss Ukraine and democracy with allies

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has long believed that diplomacy is about personal relationships — and he will spend Friday with him in Berlin Chancellor Olaf Scholz as his term is coming to an end soon.

A meeting is also planned with other leaders of the “European Quad”, a group that, in addition to Biden and Scholz, also includes French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described Biden as having a “close relationship” with Scholz, who helped broker an agreement earlier this year Prisoner exchange between several countries that brought journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan back to the United States. Before the deal, the German leader told Biden: “I will do it for you.”

“We have worked closely together to strengthen our economies for both our peoples and to provide crucial support to Ukraine as it continues to resist Russian aggression,” Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday’s White House press conference. “The President really wanted to travel to Germany to thank Chancellor Scholz directly.”

But Biden’s turbulent trip, which begins Thursday, is not just a social visit.

The United States and Germany were the two largest sources of aid to Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion. And with the U.S. presidential election less than three weeks away, Biden also feels a responsibility to prepare allies for the possible return to the White House of Republican Donald Trump, who has angered U.S. friends while expressing appreciation for Russian President Vladimir Putin brought.

The administration said Biden had no plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while he was in Europe, but the two discussed additional military aid on Wednesday, with the White House announcing $425 million in assistance, bringing the total assistance over the course increased from two years to over $64 billion a year and a half.

In addition to Ukraine, Biden and Scholz want to talk about relations with the European Union, democratic values, trade and technology issues, global supply chains, tensions in the Middle East and security issues in the Indo-Pacific region. During his stay in Germany, Biden will also meet with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Earlier this month, the US president postponed a planned trip to Germany and Angola to oversee relief efforts ahead of Hurricane Milton in Florida. He now plans to travel to Angola in December.

His trip to Germany comes as Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, has launched an aggressive sprint to persuade and woo voters in an election that will ultimately determine the future of Biden’s legacy, strengthening NATO and having built relationships in Asia could decide as a counterweight to China’s influence.

Trump has questioned America’s commitment to defending NATO allies under attack, which Biden called “un-American” in February.

“The whole world heard it and the worst thing is that he means it,” the president said.

Trump has talked about imposing tariffs on imports from U.S. allies in Europe and Asia, potentially straining relations with countries that could counter Russia, China and other rivals.

“Our allies have taken advantage of us more than our enemies,” Trump said Tuesday at the Economic Club of Chicago.

Trump declined to say whether he had continued to speak with Putin since the 2020 election loss, but added that it would not be negative if he and the Russian leader had been in contact. Bob Woodward reports in his new book “War” that Trump and Putin spoke seven times.

“But I’m telling you, if I did it, it would be a smart thing to do,” Trump said. “If I am kind to people, if I can have a relationship with people, that is a good thing and not a bad thing in terms of a country.”