German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is crossing the ocean in his first maiden flight to the U.S. as the tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue along the border. He will be meeting Biden months after his predecessor Angela Merkel had visited the nation, just before she stepped down from the chancellorship of Germany.
Chancellor Olaf’s mission is to reassure America that Germany stands with its NATO allies and that it opposes any action against Ukraine. However, things have not gone smoothly for the quiet leader. Although he said Russia would pay a “high price” if it attacks Ukraine, his government has not extended help to the country except for 5,000 helmets for Ukrainian troops, a move that was mocked by many.
Germany is heavily involved in a joint venture for Nord Stream 2. The natural gas pipeline is essential for the country and huge swaths of its northeast regions have lobbied for it. Some German officers are worried that mention of sanctions would be enough for gas prices to skyrocket and this is a strong possibility, according to experts.
Meanwhile President Biden has been quietly supportive of Nord Stream 2, unlike his predecessor Trump who had not only criticized the project but had also brought the nations’ ties with traditional NATO allies to an abysmal low.
President Biden has been building ties with European countries, including Germany. All eyes will be on soft spoken chancellor Olaf Scolz as he tries to form a bridge keeping in mind his country’s energy needs with Russia and the sovereignty of Europe and its neighbors with NATO allies.
Strident voices across Congress from some Democrats as well as some Republicans have questioned why Berlin has not responded to Estonia’s request to hand over old German howitzers to Ukraine. The conservatives in the opposition in Germany are also slamming him for not saying “clear words” about the Ukraine crisis.
Escalating of tensions between Ukraine and Russia will be an unmitigated disaster for the world, although the immediate fallout will be seen in Europe. Russia constantly denies that it is in a conflict with Ukraine though there is no let up in troops along its border with that country. It is hoped that diplomatic talks succeed as the world does not need another conflict, just as it is slowly recovering from the Covid 19 pandemic.
