Harris to give ‘major foreign policy speech’ at Munich Security Conference next week

Vice President Harris will travel to Munich for an annual gathering on international security issues as a White House push for aid to Ukraine and Israel has stalled in Congress.

Harris will attend the Munich Security Conference for a third consecutive year, attending the event Feb. 15-17, her office announced. While there, she will deliver a “major foreign policy speech” and meet with foreign leaders to discuss the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East.

“Throughout her engagements, the Vice President will underscore the importance of sustaining U.S. leadership, strengthening our alliances and partnerships, and defending international rules and norms,” Harris’s communications director, Kirsten Allen, said in a statement.

The vice president’s travel comes as the Biden administration is balancing support for allies in two separate conflicts but getting little help from Congress.

The White House has for months urged lawmakers to pass additional funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The administration issued its last round of security assistance in December, but officials have said they cannot provide more aid without action from Congress.

The White House has packaged its Ukraine aid request with an ask for additional funding to support Israel in its war against Hamas.

The Senate voted Thursday to advance a $95 billion emergency security spending bill with funding for Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific security and humanitarian assistance for civilians around the world.

The Senate still needs to hold at least five more votes to pass funding for Ukraine and Israel and send it to the House, where it faces a rocky road with Republicans, who have been skeptical of approving more aid for Ukraine. Republicans in the House also failed to pass an Israel-only funding bill earlier this week.