Austin announced in Berlin that the United States would increase its forces in Germany

Berlin, April 13th (EFE). – The US Secretary of State for Defense, Lloyd Austin, announced this Tuesday in Berlin that his country will increase its military strength in Germany by 500 soldiers, and that this “confirms Washington’s commitment” to the country. And with NATO.

In the German capital, Austin met with the German Defense Minister, Angriet Kramp-Karenbauer, who responded that this US behavior was a “strong indication” of the state of bilateral relations.

The US Secretary of State said that the supplementary forces “will strengthen deterrence and defense in Europe. They will enhance our current capabilities to prevent conflict and, if necessary, fight and win.”

The Austin announcement comes on the heels of a declaration made by US President Joe Biden last February, which announced a suspension of troop withdrawal in Germany ordered by his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Biden said it was Austin who “will lead a global review of the positions of our forces so that our military presence properly aligns with our priorities in international politics and national security.”

Pending that review, the US President said: “We will stop any plan to withdraw troops from Germany.”

Biden’s predecessor announced last June his intention to reduce the number of US forces in Germany, in retaliation for what he saw as insufficient defense spending by Berlin, and for benefiting from the United States on trade issues, in his view.

Last summer, the North American country had about 52,000 soldiers deployed on German bases, of which about 34,500 were serving soldiers and the rest were civilian employees of the Ministry of Defense.

Trump’s plan also stipulated the transfer of the European Command of US forces from Stuttgart (Germany) to Belgium, as part of what would have been the largest redistribution of US forces in Europe in decades.

Austin said today in Berlin that the new US Army will be stationed permanently in the Wiesbaden region next fall.

Austin, who estimated the surge “will greatly enhance our ability to mobilize forces quickly to defend our allies,” added Austin. EFE

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