The purpose of the meeting is to coordinate specifically on Ukraine, according to a senior administration official. The U.S. has raised concerns with China about sending weapons to Russia, which is facing equipment shortages.
The United States will also announce another round of military assistance for Ukraine on Friday, including ammunition and munitions.
Questions have been raised about the quiet nature of the trip, as Scholz is bringing no traveling press, and the two leaders will not hold a joint news conference. The Germans announced the trip in a one-line release.
Biden and Scholz are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office for about an hour, including private one-on-one time.
Concerns are growing in Europe about how long a united front of support will stand for Ukraine, particularly with the upcoming presidential election in the United States and Republicans pushing to cut back on American assistance. Additionally, House Republicans have promised to scrutinize and audit the more than $112 billion in military and economic aid that the Democrat-controlled Congress approved last year.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the U.S. has sent a wide range of weapons systems across the pond, including hundreds of anti-tank missiles, kamikaze drones, and various anti-armor munitions. However, Western allies are growing wary about sending more money to Ukraine amid worries that their populations are losing interest in the conflict.
Washington and its allies pressured Germany to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine, a move Scholz agreed to after the U.S. pledged to send its Abrams tanks. Biden ultimately sent 31 Abrams tanks, and Germany agreed to deliver 14 of its Leopard 2s. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan suggested Biden sent the hardware to placate the Germans and ensure that Ukraine got what it needed.
Biden and Scholz last met at the White House in February of 2022, shortly after Scholz took office as chancellor and before Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. They have met in Europe since then, usually at meetings of NATO and G7/G20 leaders.
»Biden and German Chancellor worry about China’s interest in arming Russia«
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