The United States deploys new troops after strengthening ties with Germany

The United States turned the page on its bitter relationship with Germany under former President Donald Trump by announcing the deployment of additional troops in Berlin and silencing the dispute over the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

Defense Secretary Llyod Austin, on his first visit to Germany, stated, “Today I am pleased to announce that we are going to increase the presence of American forces in Germany. I informed German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer of our intention to permanently send an additional 500 US servicemen to the Wiesbaden region starting this fall, “the secretary of state said.

“It is excellent news that President Joe Biden has not only announced that the withdrawal plans were abandoned, but that, on the contrary, the troops in Germany will be reinforced,” congratulated the German minister, who sees this as a very strong signal. of unity.

This announcement is contrary to the attitude taken during the presidency of Trump, who constantly criticized what he considered insufficient financial participation in NATO spending by Germany.

The American presence has declined markedly since the fall of the Berlin Wall, from 200,000 troops in 1990 to 34,500 this year.

Trump planned to continue reducing the US deployment, which had generated surprise after the United States modernized its bases in Germany in previous years.

Defense Secretary Austin promised that Germany will continue to be an important security and economic partner for the United States for years to come.

“That is why strengthening our relations with Germany is one of the top priorities of the Biden-Harris administration,” he declared.

The controversial Russian-German Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which is nearing completion, and which the United States opposes, would not tarnish this relationship.

“We have expressed our opposition to this agreement and to the influence it confers on Russia. But we will not let this matter stand in the way of the great relationship we have with Germany,” Austin said.

The new Democratic government has warned in recent weeks that all entities involved in the construction of the gas pipeline, including several German companies, will be sanctioned by the United States if they do not withdraw from the project immediately.