Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III met with newly appointed German Protection Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin at this time to debate Russia’s warfare with Ukraine and NATO points and to chart the trail ahead for a bilateral U.S.-German protection relationship.
The secretary additionally met with Wolfgang Schmidt, the federal minister for particular affairs on the German Chancellery, an company serving the chief workplace of the chancellor.
Austin met Pistorius only a few minutes after the protection minister formally assumed the job. Austin has an extended historical past with the nation, serving in then-West Germany within the Nineteen Seventies.
“Germany stays certainly one of our most necessary allies,” he stated.
Austin publicly expressed his sorrow over the loss of life of Ukrainian Inside Minister Denys Monastyrsky and greater than a dozen others in a helicopter crash close to Kyiv.
Austin stated that Germany has been a steadfast ally on this turbulent time for Europe. “All through the disaster brought on by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Germany has remained a real pal of the US and a staunch defender of our allies and values,” he stated.
He stated the US and Germany will proceed to assist the Ukrainian individuals as they resist Russian aggression and defend their sovereign territory.
Pistorius stated that Germany would assist Ukraine’s combat in opposition to the Russian invaders alongside its allies.
Austin famous that Germany has already delivered important capabilities and provides to the Ukrainian army, saying the help is “invaluable.”
Past that, Austin additionally talked about his appreciation of Germany’s sturdy assist “for our elevated presence and for [our] logistical operations to shortly transfer troopers and gear to and thru Germany to bolster our jap flank allies.”
The secretary previewed the assembly of the Ukraine Protection Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, tomorrow. There are roughly 50 nations concerned within the group and this would be the first assembly of the group in 2023. “We’ll renew our united dedication to assist Ukraine’s self-defense for the lengthy haul,” he stated.
