U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, center, gives opening remarks during the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting Sept. 19, 2023, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The group, which consists of dozens of countries and is facilitating military aid shipments to Ukraine, is scheduled to meet again at Ramstein on March 19, 2024. (Alexander Riedel/Stars and Stripes)

Community members around Ramstein Air Base can expect increased traffic on March 19, as the air base prepares to host its sixth Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting.

The event, led by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, will see the return of defense ministers and senior military officials from around the world to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and military support to the country by U.S. allies and partners.

With representatives from various nations converging on the air base, local residents can expect heightened activity and security measures, particularly at the base’s gates, which may affect travel times and access.