US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced in Berlin that an additional 500 soldiers would be stationed in Germany. At a meeting with his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, he named autumn as the time window. Austin wants to see conflicts prevented, for example in cyber defense. A reduction in the number of troops is no longer planned. The increase should be understood as a commitment to Germany as an ally. Kramp-Karrenbauer commented that this was an encouraging signal.

Former US President Donald Trump had planned to withdraw 12,000 US soldiers from Germany. The vice-chairman of the Union parliamentary group, Johann Wadephul, welcomed the announcement made by Austin. In the next legislative period, the defense budget will be increased to 10 percent of NATO’s capabilities.