Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, will be in Europe from February 1, 2013 until the evening of February 5, 2013, on a trip that will take them through three countries. The vice president and his wife will spend time in Berlin, Munich, Landstuhl, Paris, and London and speak with leaders on a variety of subjects. 

Germany was the first country on the vice president's trip to Europe and his first stop was in Berlin. While in the country's capital, the Biden met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Biden said, "Germany is an absolutely essential, critical partner, and the Transatlantic Alliance continues to be the basis upon which our entire relationship with the world…without a strong Europe, close ties to Europe, it is not conceivable how American interests…can be met around the world," when talking about the importance of a United States - Germany relationship.

While in Munich, the second stop on the trip, the vice president attended the Munich Security Conference. Biden's speech at the Conference touched on a variety of issues, such as United States foreign policy, Iraq, Iran, Al Qaeda, and the European Central Bank, among others. 

Vice President Biden also met with leaders while in Munich. Biden met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Syria was a topic of discussion during this meeting. Later in the day, the vice president met with United Nations and Arab League Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi and Syrian Opposition Coalition President Moaz al-Khatib in two different meetings.

Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden will be in Landstuhl on Sunday, Paris on Monday, and London on Tuesday.

 

Reach Executive Producer Max Schwartz here; follow him on Twitter here.