Biden to speak at virtual Munich Security Conference event

President Biden will deliver remarks at a virtual event hosted by the Munich Security Conference next week in lieu of its usual annual in-person February gathering, the White House said.

“The president will speak on the importance of our transatlantic ties and the need for the United States and Europe to take on global challenges together,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at a briefing Thursday.

Psaki said the event would be held virtually on Feb. 19, next Friday. The Munich Security Conference has postponed its annual conference due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden has been a regular fixture at the annual international security conference, which brings together world leaders as well as representatives from international organizations, civil society, business and media. Biden last delivered remarks at the conference in 2019, before announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination, during which he underscored the importance of alliances.

“President Biden led the U.S. delegation to the conference three times as vice president and most recently participated in the 2019 forum,” Psaki said Thursday.

Biden is likely to use the speech to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to its European allies in meeting global challenges, including confronting emerging threats and addressing climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden has used recent speeches at the State Department and Pentagon to outline his foreign policy and national security agenda, putting an emphasis on diplomacy and rebuilding partnerships with allies following years of former President Trump’s “America First” approach.