Scholz at the White House
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits U.S. President Joe Biden today at the White House, his first trip to Washington since succeeding Angela Merkel in December.
Today’s meeting comes as the Biden administration seeks to present a united front in its diplomatic deliberations with Russia. Washington has accused Moscow of destabilizing the region by massing troops near its border with Ukraine.
“I think the important message for the administration is that Germany and the United States are on the same page in being prepared to impose major costs, unprecedented costs on Russia, if it commits aggression against Ukraine,” Jeff Rathke, President of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies at the Johns Hopkins University, told Foreign Policy.
Germany has stood out among major NATO allies for its refusal to arm Ukraine, or allow others to send German-made weapons, in keeping with its overall policy of restraint and more specifically its refusal to export weapons to combat zones.
Scholz’s party, the Social Democrats, have historically seen Russia in a warmer light, which has raised in fears in Washington that he may be wary of upsetting his own rank-and-file in an already unprecedented three-party coalition.
Rathke said today’s meeting isn’t about the White House needing to win over the new German leader but rather to coordinate positions on what could be a rocky road of sanctions, the impact of which will be more keenly felt in the European Union than the United States. “This is this is not about treating Germany with kid gloves. It’s about Germany simply being crucial in the particular crisis that the White House is having to deal with right now,” Rathke said.
In an interview with German broadcaster ARD, Scholz reiterated the German position on weapons shipments to Ukraine but suggested that he would soon shore up a German-led NATO force in Lithuania. He also sought to stave off domestic criticism that Germany has stepped back and let others, like Emmanuel Macron’s France, take the lead on guiding European policy in the crisis. In the case of Europe, “it’s not about saying something every day, but doing something every day,” Scholz said.
Scholz’s White House visit kicks off a week of diplomacy at a level of intensity not seen since he took office, with a three-way meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzej Duda later this week, a visit from the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and European Council President Charles Michel, as well as a Balkan leaders summit all on the schedule.
The flurry of meetings and summits all come ahead of a Valentine’s Day date to remember: A visit to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Might Feb. 14 be too late for Ukraine? U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan suggested the possibility on Sunday, telling Fox News an invasion could happen “any day now,” or later, or not at all.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who is meeting his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Kyiv today, has asked for people to ignore “apocalyptic predictions.”
“Different capitals have different scenarios, but Ukraine is ready for any development,” Kuleba said.