Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With German Minister of Defense Boris PistoriusGeneral Officer AnnouncementsContracts for May 9, 2024

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and the German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius met at the Pentagon today to reaffirm their dedication to the bilateral defense relationship and to the NATO Alliance.

Secretary Austin thanked Minister Pistorius for Germany's commitment to Ukraine's defense, both in terms of security assistance and leadership within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

The two also discussed the upcoming NATO Summit in July and the celebration of 75 years of NATO, highlighting the vital role of transatlantic cooperation. Both emphasized the need for deepening defense industrial cooperation to strengthen our collective defense and interoperability within NATO, and the importance of unity in addressing today's security challenges. The Secretary commended Germany for reaching the shared NATO commitment to spend at least two percent of Gross Domestic Product on defense this year.

Minister Pistorius also noted that two German frigates recently departed for the Indo-Pacific, underscoring Germany's focus on the region.

The meeting not only underscores the enduring partnership between the two nations but also their shared commitment to upholding democratic values and ensuring a safe and secure future for both nations.