BERLIN (AP) – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Tuesday that he was expanding the U.S. military presence in Germany by 500 troops and ending planning for large-scale troop reductions..
The addition of 500 troops to a current total of about 35,000 is a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Germany and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but it also fills a practical need that the commanders in Europe identified months ago. Austin said the extra troops would play a role in space, cyber security and electronic warfare.
“This planned increase in U.S. personnel underscores our commitment to Germany and the entire NATO alliance,” Austin said in a notable counterpoint to repeated Trump administration complaints that Germany is a weak partner for defense and security.
Austin made the announcement after talks with German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer about his first tour of Europe since becoming Pentagon chief in January.
Kramp-Karrenbauer welcomes the announcement as a ‘strong signal’ of a healthy American and German relationship.
They also discussed what was a decisive decision by President Joe Biden at the time whether he would withdraw from Afghanistan altogether. U.S. officials said hours later that Biden had decided on September 11 to remove troops from Afghanistan., the 20th anniversary of the 2001 attacks, with the failure of a May 1 deadline negotiated by the Trump administration. Germany is an important part of the American coalition in Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, Austin plans to travel to NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss Biden’s decision.
In his remarks in Berlin, Austin said at a joint news conference with Kramp-Karrenbauer that the extra 500 American troops in Germany would be permanently stationed in the Wiesbaden area already in the autumn.
“These forces will deter and defend Europe. It will increase our existing conflict prevention capabilities and, if necessary, fight and win, ‘Austin said in prepared remarks.
“This move will also create more space, more cyber and more electronic warfare in Europe,” he added, adding that it would “improve our ability to meet forces in an instant to defend our allies.”
Last year, President Donald Trump ordered that 12,000 troops withdraw from Germany in retaliation for what he saw as Germany’s refusal to spend more on its own defense. Austin suspended the move shortly after taking office. He said decisions would be made at troop level as part of a comprehensive review of the US military presence around the world, including in Europe.
Austin’s announcement Tuesday is the first concrete indication that it will not implement the Trump decision, which includes the relocation of the U.S. European Command Quarter from Germany to Belgium.
On a reporter or the decision to add 500 troops means Washington is not going to carry out Trump’s move, Austin said the Pentagon has a stop to plans for reducing the gang.
The German minister said she had Biden’s word that “there will not be a reduction in troops as previously planned.”
“Today I received the pleasant announcement and assurance from Secretary Austin that there will be 500 more here,” she said. “This is how it should go among good friends and partners – you give each other word and stick to it.”
According to the US Army Europe and Africa, the troops will form two new military units and will arrive in the coming months. They will include a task force with multiple domains, with artillery, air and missile defense, intelligence, cyber, space and electronic capabilities, as well as a theatrical fire mission that demonstrates the readiness and ability of forces to work with allies in the region. , will improve. .
Col. Joe Scrocca, spokesman for the U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said the new missions were expected to be activated in September and October.
In addition, the US will retain three sites that would previously be returned to the German government. These are Mainz Kastel Station and Mainz Kastel Housing in Mainz-Kastel and Dagger Complex in Darmstadt.
“New strategies and an ever-changing operating environment require more capacity to ensure we have the necessary infrastructure for greater capabilities to support our Allies and partners,” said Major General Chris Mohan, Commanding General of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, said. “We have worked closely with German officials to reach an agreement on the maintenance of these sites and are greatly appreciated for their continued support.”
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Associated Press authors Geir Moulson in Berlin and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.