BERLIN (AP) – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Tuesday that he is expanding US military presence in Germany by 500 troops and has stopped planning large-scale troop reductions at the behest of the Trump administration
Adding 500 troops to the current total of about 35,000 is a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Germany and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but it also fulfills a practical need that commanders in Europe identified months ago. Austin said the additional troops will play a role in space, cybersecurity and electronic warfare.
“This planned increase in US workforce underscores our commitment to Germany and the entire NATO alliance,” Austin said in a remarkable counterpoint to the Trump administration’s repeated complaints that Germany is a weak defense and security partner.
Austin made the announcement after talks with German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on his first tour of Europe. since he became head of the Pentagon in January.
Kramp-Karrenbauer welcomed the announcement as a “strong signal” of a healthy US-German relationship.
They also discussed what was then a pending decision by President Joe Biden on whether or not to withdraw completely from Afghanistan. US officials said hours later that Biden had decided to remove troops from Afghanistan on September 11, the 20th anniversary of the 2001 attacks, which failed to meet the May 1 deadline agreed by the Trump administration. Germany is an important part of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, Austin plans to travel to NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss Biden’s decision.
Speaking in Berlin, Austin said at a joint press conference with Kramp-Karrenbauer that the additional 500 US troops in Germany will be permanently stationed in the Wiesbaden area as early as this fall.
“These forces will strengthen deterrence and defense in Europe. They will enhance our existing skills to avoid conflict and, if necessary, fight and win, ”said Austin in prepared remarks.
“This move will also provide more space, more cyber and more capabilities for electronic warfare in Europe,” he added, saying that “our ability to ramp up forces in the blink of an eye to defend our allies will be significant. will improve.”
Last year, President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of 12,000 troops from Germany in retaliation for what he viewed as Germany’s refusal to spend more on its own defense. Austin suspended that move shortly after taking office. He said troop level decisions would be made as part of a comprehensive review of the US military presence around the world, including in Europe.
Austin’s announcement on Tuesday is the first concrete indication that he will not implement Trump’s decision, which includes relocating US European Command headquarters from Germany to Belgium.
Asked by a reporter whether the decision to add 500 troops means that Washington will not implement Trump’s move, Austin said the Pentagon has “stopped plans” to bring back troops.
The German minister said she had word from Biden that “there will be no troop reduction as previously planned.”
“Today I received the pleasant announcement and assurance from Secretary Austin that 500 more will be deployed instead,” she said. “That’s how it should be among close friends and partners – you give each other your word and stick to it.”
According to the US military Europe and Africa, the troops will form two new military units and will arrive in the coming months. They will include a multi-domain task force, with artillery, air and missile defense, intelligence, cyber, space and electronic capabilities, as well as a Theater Fires Command that will provide the readiness and capability of the troops to work with allies in the region. to work will improve. .
Colonel Joe Scrocca, spokesman for the US military in Europe and Africa, said the new commands are expected to be activated in September and October.
In addition, the US will keep three sites previously scheduled to be returned to the German government. They are Mainz Kastel Station and Mainz Kastel Housing in Mainz-Kastel and Dagger Complex in Darmstadt.
“New strategies and an ever-changing operational environment require more capacity to ensure that 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. “We have worked closely with German officials to agree on the preservation of these sites and appreciate their continued support.”
The Associated Press authors Geir Moulson in Berlin and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.