German Foreign Minister Says US Pilot Training Important for Europe

Houston, Texas — German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock praised the training of German Bundeswehr pilots in the US state of Texas on Wednesday as an important contribution to the security of Germany, Europe and NATO.

Without the training at the joint NATO base, "we would not be in a position to further strengthen security here in Europe as well," said the Green politician on Wednesday during a visit to the US Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas.

German pilots have been training in Wichita Falls since 1966. In 1981, the programme was expanded to include pilot candidates from other NATO nations.

The training is a practical example of trans- Atlantic cooperation in security and defence policy, explained a German Foreign Office spokesman.

There are currently about 35 German flight instructors and about 25 German flight students on duty at the base.

"As the Federal Government, we are investing not only in tanks, not only in combat aircraft, not only in helicopters, but above all in the soldiers of tomorrow," Baerbock said.

Joint pilot training was "also the basis for strengthening the protection of our eastern flank of the NATO alliance with joint airspace surveillance," added Baerbock.

The visiting minister said that is why it is important that pilots from the Bundeswehr, or German army, and a total of 14 nations train together, "in the hope that an emergency never occurs."

Since the Russian attack on Ukraine, however, we know "that we have to be armed together for this emergency", said Baerbock. Joint training also strengthens the transatlantic alliance.

Baerbock is on a multi-day visit to the US which includes a trip to the southern state of Texas and to the US capital Washington.

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