Germany’s president wraps up US charm offensive in Boston

Germany’s president is visiting Boston as his country wraps up a yearlong charm offensive designed to ease tensions with the United States. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled to deliver brief remarks Thursday afternoon at the Goethe Institute in Boston. He’s then expected to attend a joint concert of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Germany’s visiting Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

Germany and the U.S. have boosted cultural ties throughout 2019 as part of a two-nation friendship campaign dubbed “Wunderbar Together” (“Wonderful Together.”) Germany launched the multimillion-dollar publicity campaign in late 2018 as it smarted from President Donald Trump’s verbal attacks and perceived disregard for the long-term U.S. ally.

Following the evening concert, a reception will be held that includes free beer and pretzels courtesy of the German government.