German Federal Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer im BMVg, Berlin, am 17.November 2020. (bmvg.de)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone Wednesday with German Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to reinforce the value the United States places on the bilateral defense relationship with “one of our closest NATO Allies.” Just three days into his new job as U.S. Secretary of Defense, General Austin reached out to his German counterpart to begin restoring the Trans-Atlantic relationship with NATO allies that was seriously damaged after four years of fiercely anti-NATO ‘America First’ policy under former President Trump. There was a widely known strain between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel culminating with the American president’s action to pull out 10,000 U.S. troops in Germany. The move by Trump sent shockwaves throughout the NATO alliance.
General Austin Becomes The First Black U.S. Defense Secretary
(credit: twitter.com/DeptofDefense) President Joe Biden’s incoming Secretary Of Defense Lloyd Austin III
The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly last Friday to confirm retired Gen. Austin to become America’s first Black defense secretary in charge of the behemoth Pentagon. Secretary Austin and Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer exchanged views on areas for stronger U.S.-Germany cooperation on global challenges, including COVID-19, force posture in Afghanistan and Iraq, and combatting the malign influence of its shared strategic rivals, according to a statement by the U.S. Department of Defense.
“Secretary Austin expressed his gratitude to Germany for continuing to serve as a great host for U.S. forces, and expressed his desire for a continued dialogue on U.S. force posture in Germany. Secretary Austin noted the importance of Germany to the NATO Alliance and expressed his desire for continued consultation.”
-U.S. Department of Defense
Germany and the United States: Shaping the future Together
Die 3. Brigade der 4. US-Infanteriedivision verlegt über Bremerhaven nach Polen. Im Rahmen des sogenannten Host Nation Support organisiert die Streitkräftebasis große Teile der logistischen Unterstützung, wie beispielsweise das Koordinier en und Absichern der Fahrzeugkolonne. Dazu werden die amerikanischen Soldaten von den deutschen Feldjägern eingewiesen und begleitet. (bmvg.de)
Bundesministerin der Verteidigung Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer im Porträt in der Säulenhalle im Bendlerblock am zweiten Dienstsitz des BMVg in Berlin am 20.09.2019. (bmvg.de)
“It was truly great to talk to Secretary Austin today. He started his stellar military career in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Now we are in it together to keep transatlantic cooperation strong.”
-German Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
It was truly great to talk to @SecDef Austin today. He started his stellar military career in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Now we are in it together to keep transatlantic cooperation strong. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/TTRQZCbluc
— A. Kramp-Karrenbauer (@akk) January 27, 2021
“A new chapter in the long history of the transatlantic partnership with the United States begins: As 46th President of the United States of America, Joseph Biden takes over official functions from Donald Trump. Biden is considered a bearer of hope. It is expected that under Biden’s leadership the United States will again place a stronger focus on cooperation with their proven partners – including Germany.”
-German Minister of Defence Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer
