German defense minister Pistorius will visit Washington this month to meet U.S. defense secretary Hegseth and attend the rollout for Germany’s F-35 procurement. The meeting reverses an earlier refusal by Hegseth to receive Pistorius and comes amid U.S.-German strains over Iran and the Ukraine war, a dynamic that heightens the visit’s geopolitical and defense-sector significance.

2026-09-03

German defense minister Pistorius will visit Washington this month to meet U.S. defense secretary Hegseth and attend the rollout for Germany’s F-35 procurement. The meeting reverses an earlier refusal by Hegseth to receive Pistorius and comes amid U.S.-German strains over Iran and the Ukraine war, a dynamic that heightens the visit’s geopolitical and defense-sector significance.