Purpose of US President's European tour

US President Joe Biden arrived in Paris on June 5 on a trip to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day and a state visit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.

But the task ahead will be much more important, as President Biden seeks to strengthen ties with transatlantic allies as Europe faces the Russia-Ukraine conflict, challenges from China and the risk that European Parliament elections could upend the current geopolitical order.

John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said President Biden truly believes that the transatlantic relationship is at a critical juncture in history, tied to geopolitical upheavals and challenges facing the world.

In Normandy, Mr. Biden and other Western leaders will recall a specific challenge that Allied forces faced on June 6, 1944 — the largest seaborne military assault in history that left more than 10,000 casualties and became a pivotal moment in the fight against Nazi Germany.

The trip to Normandy and subsequent state visit to France are aimed at bringing the US closer to one of its key allies on the world stage. President Macron is one of the key European leaders, with an important voice regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

France has doubled its defense budget, announced it would exceed NATO’s defense spending target of 2% of GDP, and restarted domestic production of key military components. In April, Mr. Macron visited a Eurenco plant that will produce explosives after years of outsourcing.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Mr Biden is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while they are in Normandy and again on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy next week.

The visit comes at a critical moment in the conflict in Ukraine, which has begun using Western weapons against targets inside Russia for the first time. Ukraine has been asking Washington for months to allow it to strike targets inside Russia with American weapons, as Moscow launches a massive air and ground assault on Kharkiv and can safely retreat to Russian territory to consolidate its forces.

According to Mr. Kirby, the possibility of using about $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine will be discussed by President Biden and his French counterpart Macron during the visit.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss the conflict in the Middle East. President Biden has worked to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza to free hostages, even as he remains pro-Israel and opposes European efforts to recognize a Palestinian state or investigate Israel for alleged “genocide.”

Biden’s visit to France will be followed by a trip to Italy later this month for the annual G7 summit, a rare dual international diplomatic event in the middle of a presidential election season. President Biden will skip the next meeting in Switzerland to attend a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles with Hollywood stars.

Meanwhile, both Reuters and AP said that President Biden's visit to Europe this time is to emphasize his commitment to America's allies, seeking to show steadfast support for European security at a time when some allies are concerned that Donald Trump is threatening to cancel US commitments if he returns to the White House in the presidential election in November this year.

Mr Biden is up for re-election in November against former President Trump. Mr Trump has threatened to abandon NATO allies if they do not increase their defense spending, and some fear he would withdraw the US from the alliance altogether if elected president again.