German minister to press Hegseth on arms supplies, missile deployment
By Sabine Siebold
Berlin (Reuters) -Geman Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is going to Washington on Monday to meet US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, looking for clarity to Ukraine about American arms materials, missile distribution plans and the future of US unity levels in Europe.
Pistorius’s largest economy in Europe will receive a warm reception since NATO has emerged as a key player in NATO’s largest military accumulation since the Cold War.
As European authorities feared Russia on a possible future attack and supported a disadvantage of the US forces, Germany loosen the constitutional debt braking to meet the new core military expenditure target of 3.5% of NATO’s national output until 2029.
In the draft budget of 2025, the movement will increase German defense expenditures in 2029 in 2029 from 95 billion euros to 162 billion euros ($ 189 billion).
At a meeting with Hegseth in the Pentagon, Pistorius will discuss the payment offer for the American Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine, a public offer by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as Berlin’s special debates could not respond to Washington.
US President on Sunday Donald Trump Patriot said he would send missiles to Ukraine. He did not give a number, but he said the US would be repaid by the European Union for costs.
Since Ukraine has endured the most severe Russian attacks in recent weeks, Germany donated three patriotic units to Kiev.
However, European allies continue to be anxious about the unpredictable attitude of the new US administration on arms materials. On Tuesday, Trump said he approved to send defense weapons to Ukraine, and only a few days after Pentagon stopped the sending of critical weapons to Ukraine, he was considering additional sanctions in Moscow.
As Pistorius has been decided under Washington’s former President Joe Biden, he will seek clarity as to whether he is determined to temporarily distribute long -range missiles to Germany from 2026.
In the distribution, 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) range Tomahawk Cruise missiles and a developmental hypersonic weapon with approximately 3,000 km range will include dark eagle.
Russia criticized plans as a serious threat to national security and rejected NATO’s concerns that it could attack an alliance member.
Another key issue is that approximately 80,000 US troops in the US will have an ongoing investigation of the US that can lead to unity deductions in Europe, where approximately 80,000 US troops, including 40,000 people in Germany.
European allies call Washington to coordinate any disadvantage to prevent NATO members vulnerable to Russian aggression.
