The United States will increase its military presence in Germany by about 500 people to defend Europe more effectively, the US Secretary of Defense said during a visit to Germany on Tuesday.

This statement not only reverses the previous US administration’s plans to withdraw up to 12,000 of the approximately 36,000 US troops stationed in Germany but also expands the US footprint at a time when Europe is becoming increasingly concerned about the movements of Russian troops near the border with Ukraine.

“These forces will strengthen deterrence and defense in Europe. They will increase our existing capabilities to prevent conflicts and, if necessary, to fight and win.” said the US Secretary of Defense during a meeting with his German counterpart.

The U.S. Department of Defense did not clarify what mission they would conduct but stressed that sending the 500 additional soldiers would “create more space, more cyber capabilities and more electronic warfare capabilities in Europe.”