Germany troops

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced yesterday that he is expanding the US military presence in Germany by 500 troops and has stopped planning for large-scale troop cuts ordered by the Trump Administration. Adding 500 troops to a current total of about 35,000 is a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Germany and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, but it also fills a practical need that commanders in Europe had identified months ago. Austin said the extra troops will have a role in space, cybersecurity and electronic warfare.