WASHINGTON, 29 January, 2021 (TON): The American troops “feel very comfortable” in Germany told the U.S. Defense Minister Defense Lloyd Austin told his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

A controversial move was taken by the Trump administration when former President Trump ordered the number of the U.S. troops to be reduced by more than 25% in the region of Germany. Germany is "highly valued" as a station for American soldiers, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in their first conversation since Austin took up his new position, the German Defense Ministry said Thursday.

Last year the order was passed by the Trump government to lessen the troop count stationed in Germany, however, the German officials now expect that the order would be retracted by the new administration of Joe Biden.

During a call with Kramp-Karrenbauer on Wednesday, Austin "emphasized that Germany is highly valued as a station and that American soldiers feel very comfortable here," the media reported.

"The US continues to consider its presence in Germany as an important part of joint security," the German Defense Ministry said.

Secretary Austin extended his gratitude towards Germany for continuing serving as a great host for the U.S. forces and expressed his desire for a continued dialogue on US force posture in Germany, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Other issues were also discussed by the officials, including NATO cooperation, pandemic crisis and the security situations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Around 34,500 US troops are stationed in Germany, which plays host to key American military facilities like the Ramstein Air Base and the headquarters for the US European Command and US Africa Command. The two nations’ relationship became very positive, in terms of democratic ideals, anti-communism, and high levels of economic trade. Today, the US is one of Germany's closest allies and partners outside of the European Union. The people of the two countries see each other as reliable allies but disagree on some key policy issues.