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US Vice President Kamala Harris will be going on another overseas engagement next week as she will be attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany. Harris is also set to rally allies as tensions in Eastern Europe remain high.
The White House announced Wednesday that Harris will be traveling to Germany for the Munich Security Conference. Harris will be outlining the US policy towards Ukraine and reiterating the country’s commitment to its NATO allies. Harris will also be meeting one-on-one with other world leaders in an effort to bring a united stance against a possible Russian invasion.
“Munich will demonstrate our ironclad commitment to our NATO allies, reaffirm our shared interest in upholding the principles that have underpinned European peace and security since World War II, and underscore our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Harris’s deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.
The vice president’s trip to Munich will reinforce US engagement with its allies in Europe in the midst of a threat posed by Russia with tens of thousands of troops at its border with Ukraine. Moscow has denied planning any invasion, but US officials say that an offensive by Russia may occur in a matter of days or weeks.
Russia has also started its military exercises at the Black Sea and at Belarus in a show of strength. Russian President Vladimir Putin also warned that there would be a military conflict should NATO accept Ukraine into the alliance and attempt to take back Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
In other related news, Harris has also faced some challenges of her own as several of her staffers have resigned. However, according to the vice president’s allies, the new hires along with the new year may be an opportunity for Harris to rebuild her image from 2021 during her first year as vice president. Harris supporters say it is not a reboot, but rather the next chapter in her term, which will likely go smoothly now compared to her first year.
The sudden departure of key staff members in Harris’s office appeared to start after the vice president traveled to Central America as part of the diplomatic efforts to address the causes of migration.
