German Defense Minister Discusses Strengthening Military Cooperation with Washington in the United States

Berlin, Sept. 15 (KUNA) -- The German Federal Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius has traveled to the United States for a visit during which he will meet his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Washington to discuss strengthening military and industrial cooperation between the two countries. The ministry said in a statement that the talks would focus on joint armament projects, foremost among them the F-35 fighter jet, and the prospects of producing Patriot air defense system guided missiles in Germany, as well as Berlin’s plans to purchase U.S. Tomahawk missiles. It added that Pistorius would also discuss the future of the U.S. military presence in Europe and Germany’s role in providing alternative military capabilities, as Berlin seeks to bolster its defense capacities and increase its contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). After his visit to Washington, the German official will travel to New York, where he will hold talks with United Nations officials, including Secretary-General António Guterres, on the future of international peacekeeping operations, particularly the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission, which is scheduled to end at the end of 2026. The minister will conclude his visit in Texas, where Germany is set to take delivery of its first F-35 fighter jet out of 35 ordered from Lockheed Martin to replace its aging Tornado fleet. Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war in February 2022, Germany has been undertaking radical reforms and adjustments in its armed forces. (End) E.N.J./A.M.H.