U.S. may step down from NATO command, risking influence loss
The Donald Trump administration is contemplating stepping down from NATO command in Europe, which could lead to significant changes in the alliance's structure.
What do you need to know?
- Changes in NATO Command: The Donald Trump administration is considering resigning from the role of NATO commander in Europe, a position the U.S. has held for almost 75 years.
- Planned Savings: The proposed changes could result in savings of approximately CAD 390 million in the first year.
- Reactions in Europe: The U.S. stepping down from NATO command might be seen as a withdrawal from the alliance.
Why is the U.S. considering stepping down from NATO command?
According to ABC News, President Donald Trump's administration is considering stepping down from NATO command in Europe. Currently, General Christopher Cavoli holds this position, with his term ending in the summer. The Pentagon is planning to restructure military commands, which might include stepping down from the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The American network cites two independent sources familiar with the matter.
Is the U.S. leaving NATO?
"For the United States to give up the role of supreme allied commander of NATO would be seen in Europe as a significant signal of walking away from the alliance," said retired Admiral James Stavridis.
"It would be a political mistake of epic proportion, and once we give it up, they are not going to give it back," wrote Stavridis. "We would lose an enormous amount of influence within NATO, and this would be seen, correctly, as probably the first step toward leaving the Alliance altogether," he added.
Savings could amount to CAD 390 million
The proposed changes aim to save money by reducing personnel and merging commands. There are plans to combine the European and African Commands into a single command in Germany and close the Southern Command headquarters in the U.S. Savings could amount to CAD 390 million in the first year, which represents about 0.03% of the annual Department of Defence budget.
An American has held the specified position since the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower.
The former SACEUR Gen. Ben Hodges also commented on the situation, stating that the proposed changes might primarily have an economic dimension.
- The contemplated moves in Europe may reduce American influence there, as the U.S. could lose some access to key naval and air bases in Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain — bases that benefit the U.S. by putting them closer to potential missions and giving them more influence with and access to regional military officials, not only its allies, said the general.
- When you start reducing capabilities of headquarters that do planning and intelligence — that only hurts us - said Hodges in an interview with NBC News.
