Key facts
- German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on September 15.
- The meeting is scheduled to take place in Texas during a rollout ceremony for Germany's first F-35 fighter jets.
- The meeting follows an earlier instance where Hegseth did not meet with Pistorius.
- The U.S. is reviewing its military presence in Europe, with potential troop reductions being considered.
- Germany is a significant purchaser of U.S. weaponry, including F-35 fighter jets and P-8 surveillance aircraft.
- A Russian-made drone was recently discovered at a German airport.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on September 15 in Texas. This meeting comes after an earlier instance where Hegseth reportedly did not meet with Pistorius, a situation that may have been influenced by frosty relations between the two countries. The meeting is expected to cover topics such as a recent Russian drone incident at a German airport and a Pentagon review of the U.S. military presence in Europe.
President Donald Trump previously ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany in May, a move that followed criticism of the U.S. war with Iran by German President Friederich Merz. The repositioning of these troops is anticipated to take up to a year. Germany could be significantly impacted by any further troop reductions, as it hosts tens of thousands of American soldiers and several large military bases.
Pistorius's visit to the U.S. coincides with a rollout ceremony in Texas for the first F-35 fighter jets destined for the German armed forces. Germany remains a key contributor to NATO and a substantial purchaser of U.S. weaponry, including 35 F-35s and eight P-8 surveillance aircraft. The acquisition of the P-8s, designed for submarine hunting, will enhance the German navy's capabilities in monitoring Russian submarines and critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic and North Atlantic regions.
Concerns are rising in Europe about potential Russian attacks on undersea infrastructure, particularly given Moscow's stated desire to retaliate against European support for Ukraine. This concern was heightened by the recent discovery of an explosives-laden drone, identified as Russian-made, at an airport in Leipzig.
Pistorius and Hegseth have met previously, including at the NATO summit in Turkey in July and during a visit to the Pentagon last summer. Following those meetings, the Trump administration approved the sale of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany. Currently, 38,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Germany, which also serves as the headquarters for U.S. European and Africa Commands, representing the largest deployment of American forces in Europe.