If the speech he gave last summer before Berlin's Siegessäule Victory Column was anything to go by, then Barack Obama's first visit to Germany as the President of the United States will be a gigantic spectacle. Later this month, Obama and his wife Michelle will make their first official trip to Europe, including a visit to Germany.

On Thursday night, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  formally announced the visit, which has been expected for weeks now. During his trip, from March 31-April 5, Obama is expected to make stops in Britain, France, Germany and the Czech Republic.

"President Obama is committed, as I am, to strengthening the trans-Atlantic alliance, to supporting a strong Europe that is a strong partner to the United States and to energize our partnerships to confront the common challenges of our time," Clinton said.

White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs said Obama's trip would begin in London, where the president will meet with other G-20 leaders to discuss the global economic and financial crisis. On April 3, the president plans to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy before travelling on to the NATO summit on April 3 and 4. The summit, to be held in the border cities of Strasbourg, France and Kehl and Baden-Baden, Germany, will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. At the NATO meeting, he is expected to discuss security issues in Europe, the situation in Afghanistan and the challenges facing the alliance during 21st century.