Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his hope that the United States would recognize the essential role of its allies as he presented President Joe Biden with Germany‘s highest order of merit on Friday, acknowledging his contributions to transatlantic relations.

Biden’s visit to Berlin, which addresses issues ranging from the war in Ukraine to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, occurs just two and a half weeks before elections in the United States.

The possibility of former President Donald Trump’s re-election raises concerns among several European nations, including Germany, which experienced a decline in relations during his first term from 2017 to 2021. Trump, the Republican candidate, is currently in a tight race with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.

“Just a few years ago, the gap between us had widened to the point where we nearly lost our connection,” Steinmeier remarked in a speech following Biden’s arrival in Berlin, where he was greeted with military honors outside the presidential palace.

Upon your election as president, you revitalized Europe’s faith in the transatlantic alliance almost instantaneously.

Trump has indicated a greater hesitance than Biden to maintain support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression. He has also suggested that U.S. assistance to NATO allies may come with stipulations.

“NATO is an essential alliance,” stated Steinmeier. “In the coming months, I hope Europeans will remember that America is vital to us, and I hope Americans will recognize that your allies are crucial to you.”

Biden emphasized that the West must not abandon Ukraine, which is bracing for a challenging winter, and expressed gratitude to Germany for its backing. The United States and Germany stand as Ukraine’s primary military and financial supporters.

“We cannot afford to relent. We must continue our support. In my opinion, we should persevere until Ukraine achieves a just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter,” he remarked.

Biden is scheduled to engage in private discussions with Chancellor Olaf Scholz over lunch, focusing on security, trade, and various economic matters.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to arrive in Berlin to participate in discussions primarily aimed at finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, particularly as Russian troops make gains in the eastern region and a harsh winter with power outages approaches. “The central issue is the type of security guarantees, and that will be the focus of our conversation tomorrow,” Macron informed the press on Thursday.

US ELECTION ON THE HORIZON

Biden’s potential final visit to Europe as president, particularly to Berlin, underscores the strong collaborative relationship he has developed with Chancellor Scholz. At the beginning of his presidency, Biden established trust with Germany, temporarily overlooking the Nord Stream 2 project, which aims to increase the direct flow of Russian gas to Germany, according to Sudha David-Wilp from the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

This strengthened partnership allowed the U.S. to coordinate effectively with Germany following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading to a significant increase in German defense spending to meet NATO’s 2% GDP target, while drastically reducing Russian gas imports.

“The decision on November 5th rests solely with the American people,” stated Steinmeier. “As Europeans, we also have a responsibility. We must remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine, invest in our collective security, and commit to our shared future, just as you have, sir, by upholding the transatlantic alliance regardless of the circumstances.”

Berlin was instrumental in facilitating a significant prisoner exchange in August between Russia and the West, resulting in the release of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan from Russian custody.

“This visit serves as both a gesture of gratitude and a reminder to maintain our commitment to Ukraine, irrespective of the challenges ahead,” remarked David-Wilp.