Chapter 16 — Presidential Visits & International Engagement
Under Article 59 of the Basic Law the Federal President represents Germany abroad. Steinmeier's state visits have reached far beyond Germany's traditional partners — to South and Central Asia, Africa, the South Caucasus and South-East Asia.
With Elke Büdenbender, Steinmeier paid a state visit to India in his first year in office. He was received by President Ram Nath Kovind, held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and met civil-society representatives. The programme extended beyond New Delhi to Varanasi and to Chennai, an important location for German business in India.
Source: bundespraesident.de
Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender were welcomed with military honours in Ulaanbaatar by President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and Luvsandorj Bolortsetseg. The visit underlined Germany's interest in partnerships with democracies in Asia, including on raw materials and energy.
Source: bundespraesident.de
On his first visit to Nigeria as Federal President, Steinmeier held talks in Abuja with President Bola Tinubu and with Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, before travelling on to South Africa and Lesotho.
Source: bundespraesident.de
The first visit by a German head of state since Heinrich Lübke in 1963. Talks with President Marcos covered defence, maritime security, trade, renewable energy and labour mobility. The journey also took in Indonesia and Uzbekistan.
Sources: Philippine and German official statements; Philippine Daily InquirerTravel log
Hosting
As host, the President receives visiting heads of state at Schloss Bellevue. Notable occasions include King Charles III's first state visit abroad as monarch (29–31 March 2023), welcomed with military honours at the Brandenburg Gate, and the official visit of President Joe Biden on 18 October 2024. International relations