BERLIN — The U.S. will step up its navy presence in Germany by 500 troopers, U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned on Tuesday.
Talking throughout a visit to Berlin the place he met with German Protection Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Austin mentioned that strengthening the connection between the U.S. and Germany was a “high precedence for the Biden/Harris administration.”
He mentioned he “had a productive dialogue on quite a few safety points” with Kramp-Karrenbauer, insisting that it was “good for the US and good for NATO” to have a U.S. navy presence in Germany, which he referred to as one in all Washington’s “staunchest allies.”
“Consistent with my pledge to seek the advice of with allies and companions at present, I briefed the minister on our intention to completely station roughly 500 extra U.S. personnel within the Wiesbaden space as early as this fall,” Austin mentioned.
The secretary additionally lauded Berlin’s upcoming naval deployment to the Indo-Pacific area, calling it a “tangible signal of Germany’s dedication to venture stability and uphold a rules-based worldwide order.”
Earlier this yr, U.S. President Joe Biden introduced that Washington was reversing his predecessor Donald Trump’s choice to withdraw as much as 12,000 troops from Germany.
Throughout his presidency, Trump typically complained about what he thought of Germany’s inadequate ambitions to extend protection spending, as soon as going so far as calling the nation “delinquent.”
Austin, in distinction, thanked Kramp-Karrenbauer for stepping up Germany’s dedication to spending extra on protection.
Germany’s aid on the change in tune from Washington was palpable on Tuesday.
“It’s, in fact, great information that the U.S. has not solely … distanced itself from plans to withdraw American troops from Germany, however that, quite the opposite, these troops right here in Germany might be strengthened by 500 extra forces,” Kramp-Karrenbauer mentioned.
“With its presence in Europe and right here in Germany, and with its dedication to NATO, the U.S. is and can stay a vital pillar on which our peace right here at residence is predicated,” she added.