German defense chief to meet with Hegseth after earlier snub
Boris Pistorius will visit the Pentagon chief for a rollout of F-35 warplanes.
As tensions between the United States and Germany escalate following President Trump's decision to withdraw troops, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is set to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington. The meeting, scheduled for September 15, is a notable shift after Hegseth previously declined to meet with Pistorius earlier this year, following criticisms of the U.S. war with Iran by German President Friedrich Merz.
The meeting comes as part of Pistorius' trip to the U.S. for the rollout of F-35 warplanes purchased by Germany and is expected to cover recent Russian drone attacks, a Pentagon review of the U.S. military presence in Europe, and the potential troop reductions in Europe. Pistorius, a key contributor to NATO and a major buyer of U.S. weapons, will also discuss the recent drone attack discovered at an airport in Leipzig, attributed to Russia.
The meeting highlights the strained relations between the two countries and the potential impact of U.S. troop withdrawals on German military presence.
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