leaders prepare to meet. . president biden has now published an op-ed in the washington post about his forthcoming trip, saying on wednesday i depart for europe on the first foreign travel of my presidency. stacked with meetings with many of our closest democratic partners, group of seven, nato allies, leadership of the eu, before concluding by meeting with vladimir putin. in this moment of global uncertainty, he says this trip is about realizing america's renewed commitment to our allies and partners and demonstrating the capacity of democracies to both meet the challenges and deter the threats of this new age. he says, quote, this is a defining question of our time. can democracies come together to deliver real results for our people in a rapidly-changing world? will the democratic alliances and institutions that shaped so much of the last century prove their capacity against modern-day threats and adversaries? president biden concludes by