22 January 2025
German Defense Minister emphasizes Europe’s growing role amid US policy changes
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks with DW chief political correspondent Nina Haase during his visit to Lithuania. In 2023, Pistorius signed a roadmap for the permanent deployment of Bundeswehr brigades in the Baltic nation. German brigades in Lithuania will be combat-ready by 2027.
The Defense Minister visited Lithuania during the first week of Donald Trump’s second term as US President. Asked if the visit was part of a strategy to demonstrate Europe’s proactive stance, Pistorius said Europeans now have a greater responsibility than ever to protect Europe, regardless of any US administration. He also revealed that he had contacted his US counterpart to discuss a possible visit in the first week of February.
Pistorius emphasized that any new US administration would likely shift its focus towards the Indo-Pacific region: “We cannot expect the Americans to do more in the Indo-Pacific for the sake of our prosperity and security. Will work, and at the same time they will do the same as they did in Europe in the past.”
He also told DW that he is “not really worried” about the future of NATO: “The Americans know what they have in the tradition of the Euro-transatlantic partnership. We are sitting on the same side,” Boris Pistorius said.
On the subject of possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Pistorius said: “We have to talk about a ceasefire and then permanent peace for Ukraine, and that means Ukraine needs security guarantees by all other countries. Otherwise, it will only be “a few years, perhaps, until Russia strikes again.”
Addressing the debate over supporting Ukraine during the German election campaign, Pistorius supported the plan proposed by the German Chancellor. “The chancellor’s proposal is the best way to finance it because it is the most transparent way,” he said.
