US secretary of state to visit Germany
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Germany today to visit Ramstein Air Base.
Secretary Blinken’s schedule will include a meeting with his German counterpart, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, a ministerial meeting on Afghanistan and a visit to a transport hub housing over 17,000 Afghan evacuees.
Today’s visit to Germany is part of what has been dubbed the “thank you tour.” Blinken’s trip is an attempt to boost diplomatic engagement with allies following the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Prior to Germany, Blinken made a stop in Qatar, which served as a transport hub for American airlift and evacuation efforts. Goals include fostering cooperation in Afghan refugee resettlement, as well as holding the Taliban accountable globally.
Foreign Minister Maas recently returned from a trip to Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Qatar, all critical in the evacuation and refugee placement effort. As such, expect that a visit from Secretary Blinken will be appreciated by his German counterpart as the two engage with critical allies in the region surrounding Afghanistan and beyond its borders. Expect Foreign Minister Maas to push for dialogue with the Taliban, as he has emphasized the need for a consistent approach for communicating with the group.
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