Germany and the U.S. marked 70 years of the Marshall Plan on June 28.
The Marshall Plan rebuilt Europe economically and helped to prevent communism’s spread.
The plan was designed to rebuild war torn nations and lessen the Soviet Union’s appeal.
It would later lead to the two countries, enemies during World War II, becoming allies under NATO. The German and American defense ministers met to underscore mutual cooperation. Jim Mattis and his German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen met in the Bavarian city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
The defense ministers also had strong words for Russia, emphasizing that NATO is willing to work with Moscow but that Moscow must be aware of what NATO stands for.
