Status: 01/19/2023 08:43 a.m
Federal President Steinmeier has appointed the SPD politician Pistorius as the new head of the Federal Ministry of Defense. The new minister will meet his US counterpart Austin in the morning.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has appointed SPD politician Boris Pistorius as the new Federal Defense Minister. Steinmeier presented the former Interior Minister of Lower Saxony with his certificate of appointment in the morning.
At the same time, the Federal President dismissed Pistorius’ predecessor Christine Lambrecht, who had announced her resignation on Monday after sustained criticism of her conduct of office. With the appointment by Steinmeier, the 62-year-old Pistorius became the holder of authority and command over the German armed forces.
Meeting with Secretary of Defense Austin
Pistorius will take his oath of office before the Bundestag. The SPD politician will then be received with military honors in the Federal Defense Ministry, and a short press statement is also planned.
At around 11 a.m. the minister received his first foreign guest, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. On Friday, the two defense ministers are expected to attend an international meeting at the American Ramstein military base in Rhineland-Palatinate. The NATO states and other countries want to discuss increasing military aid for Ukraine there. In the run-up, the delivery of battle tanks was discussed in particular.