What Is Barack Obama's Next Plan? Former President To Visit Berlin In May On The Same Day Trump Visits Brussels

Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on May 25, in his first trip to Europe since he left office.

Obama will arrive in Germany on the same day when his successor President Donald Trump is expected to make his first trip to the country since becoming president. Trump is expected to visit Brussels for a meeting with other NATO leaders.

The former president will visit Germany for the launch of celebratory events organized by the Protestant Church as Germany marks the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation. Obama will also be participating in a discussion on democracy with Merkel.

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Obama's spokesman Eric Schultz confirmed that the former president plans to join Merkel for "a moderated conversation on the importance of democracy and taking on responsibility locally and globally," according to ABC News.

Obama is due to give a speech at the May 25 event that will take place in front of Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate. Obama had previously delivered a speech in 2013 at the same place while he was the president, Church officials said.

Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Germany's top Lutheran bishop said: "President Barack Obama’s attending the Kirchentag in Berlin, which will ring in the Reformation Summer, underlines how internationally we are celebrating 500 years of the Reformation."

"Anyone who is pious also has to be politically minded. I am looking forward to enthusiastic debates during the Reformation Summer 2017,” the Independent quoted Strohm.

The discussion between Obama and Merkel before the celebrations has been organized jointly by the Obama Foundation and the German Protestant Kirchentag conference.

Obama has previously supported Merkel saying: “If I were German and I had a vote I’d support her” during his final visit to Berlin as the president last November.

In contrast to the former president, Trump has been openly critical of Merkel, specifically about her willingness to allow refugees into the country, who seek asylum in Germany.