Biden to address security conference

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will deliver an address in Germany Saturday that's expected to form the basis for a new trans-Atlantic alliance, observers say.

Biden, in his first overseas trip since assuming the vice presidency, is expected to use a speech to the Munich Security Conference to try to repair relations with Europe strained during the Bush administration, Germany's Der Spiegel said.

Diplomatic observers say it is important that any gesture toward reconciliation be made by Biden instead of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates who was originally scheduled to attend the conference.

Gates is the only surviving member of the Bush Cabinet.

Analysts are hoping Biden's speech will allow them to extrapolate details of the Obama administration's policies on Russia, Afghanistan, the Middle East and NATO expansion, Deutsche Welle reports.

While in Munich, Biden also plans to meet with European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.