German and US Defense Chiefs Set First US Meeting Since May Talks Fell Through

Boris Pistorius is expected to meet Pete Hegseth in the United States on the 15th, marking their first meeting there since planned talks in May fell through.

The German defense minister will travel to the United States to attend an event in Texas showcasing Germany’s newly purchased F-35 fighter jets. Two NATO officials and one Pentagon official, all speaking anonymously, said Pistorius would use the visit to hold talks with Hegseth, according to Politico.

The ministers are expected to discuss an attempted explosive-drone attack at Leipzig-Halle Airport and the possible redeployment of US forces stationed in Europe. The Trump administration is considering several options, including a major reduction in its European troop presence.

Germany hosts about 38,000 US troops, as well as US European Command and US Africa Command. Because Germany contains the largest US military presence in Europe, any reduction would affect it more than other countries, the report said.

The meeting comes after tensions between Berlin and Washington over the wars in Iran and Ukraine. President Donald Trump previously ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the US campaign in Iran. Pistorius later canceled a planned trip to the United States after he failed to secure a meeting with Hegseth.

Germany has bought 35 F-35 fighter jets and eight P-8 maritime patrol aircraft from the United States. The first P-8 has already been delivered. Germany expects the aircraft to help track Russian submarines and expand monitoring of undersea cables and infrastructure in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic. The Trump administration has also approved the sale of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany.