Overview

• Major General Hartmut Renk has been formally removed from his NATO post after making a sexist remark during a February command meeting, reported by a British officer.
• Renk's planned promotion to lieutenant general and transfer to NATO's Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk have been canceled.
• German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has launched disciplinary proceedings and is moving toward placing Renk in early retirement by the fall of 2025.
• Renk admitted to making the comment but claimed it was intended as ironic rather than literal; an internal investigation reportedly confirmed the statement.
• The case highlights ongoing efforts within NATO and the Bundeswehr to address misconduct and enforce accountability among senior military leadership.