US President in Germany
Biden says thank you goodbye
Updated 10/18/2024 – 8:02 p.mReading time: 5 minutes
US President Joe Biden says goodbye to Germany during his visit to Berlin – and “thank you, thank you, thank you”. For Ukraine support, but also other things. One comes off particularly well.
US President Joe Biden praised Germany as the United States’ “closest and most important ally” during his farewell visit to Berlin. He thanked the Federal Government for supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia, but also for the fight against anti-Semitism and for a clear stance towards Iran. Addressing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he said: “I want to thank you for your friendship.”
Biden and Scholz jointly assured Ukraine of their solidarity in short statements before their conversation. “America and Germany are the two biggest supporters of Ukraine,” Biden said. The country is now heading for a harsh winter. The allies must therefore urgently maintain their efforts and aid. Scholz said that Putin had miscalculated and that he could not wait out this war.
However, the two did not publicly address Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan.” Both are opposed to Zelensky’s central demands – an unconditional invitation to NATO and war on Russian territory and with extensive Western weapons. Scholz said very clearly at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday that his position would not change.
During his meeting with Biden, Scholz emphasized that NATO should not be drawn into the war. “Our position is clear: We support Ukraine as vigorously as possible. At the same time, we ensure that NATO does not become a warring party, so that this war does not result in an even greater catastrophe,” he said. “We are very aware of this responsibility and no one can take it away from us.”
In addition to the Middle East conflict and Iran, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine was also the main topic of a two-and-a-half-hour four-party summit on the 8th floor of the Chancellery, which was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the afternoon.
Biden then spoke of a good meeting and “complete agreement” in the group. Starmer said: “We are absolutely united in our determination and we will support Ukraine for as long as it is needed.”
A statement following the meeting said the four leaders discussed plans to help Ukraine and discussed Zelensky’s “victory plan.” The aim is to continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to “ensure a just and lasting peace” on the basis of international law.
Biden, Macron, Starmer and Scholz also spoke about the need to end the Gaza war and bring the Israeli hostages back to their families. They once again condemned “Iran’s escalating attack on Israel” and agreed on efforts to hold Iran accountable and prevent further escalation. “We must work towards a diplomatic solution” in Lebanon.
Middle East: Hope for a ceasefire
The Middle East issue moved higher up the agenda at Scholz and Biden’s meeting after Israel announced the day before that Hamas leader Jihia al-Sinwar had been killed in the Gaza Strip. Biden once again called for this development to be used as an opportunity to seek a path to peace and a better future in Gaza.
Scholz also said that Sinwar’s death “hopefully opens up the concrete prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza, of an agreement to release the Hamas hostages.” However, it is questionable whether hopes for de-escalation after months of war with Hamas in Gaza and its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon will really be fulfilled.
A good three months before the end of his term in office, it was Biden’s first and last bilateral visit to Germany. Previously, he had only been to the G7 summit in Elmau, Bavaria, in 2022 and with his Air Force One to refuel at the US base in Ramstein.
The 81-year-old originally wanted to travel to Berlin a week earlier, but canceled the trip at short notice – because of a hurricane that was heading towards the southeast coast of the USA at the time. In the second attempt it worked, but in a slimmed-down form. The state visit with all the honors of the protocol and a Ukraine solidarity summit in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, turned into a flying visit of just around 20 hours to Berlin.