NATO announced a command restructuring plan with the United States giving up two allied operational-level commands to European countries, but keeping the most senior military post.
The United Kingdom and Italy will take over command of Joint Force Command Norfolk and Joint Force Command Naples, respectively, from the U.S., while Germany and Poland will share command of Joint Force Command Brunssum on a rotational basis.
“As a result, all three Joint Force Commands (four-star commands), which lead at the operational level in crisis and conflict, will be led by Europeans,” the NATO announcement reads.
The U.S. will instead take up command of NATO Maritime Command and maintain command of NATO Land Command and NATO Air Command. The U.S. will also maintain the role of Supreme Allied Commander, a position currently held by Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, which had long been a source of speculation.
These changes will be “implemented incrementally in the coming years.”
In November 2025, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matt Whitaker, said he was hopeful that one day the position of SACEUR would be under German command.
“The agreement is part of a shift to more fairly share responsibility within NATO, with European Allies taking on greater leadership roles in NATO’s Command Structure, while also making clear the US commitment to NATO command and control, including in maintaining the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR),” the NATO announcement continues.
This announcement comes ahead of a scheduled NATO defense ministers meeting on Thursday in Brussels, which U.S. undersecretary of war for policy Elbridge Colby is set to attend, but not War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
TRUMP’S VIEWS ON NATO COULD SPARK RUSSIAN OPPORTUNITIES IN EUROPE
The Trump administration has aggressively pushed European countries to increase their defense capabilities and to reduce their reliance on the U.S. As a part of that push, the alliance agreed to increase the defense spending minimum requirement by more than double what it was — from 2% of a country’s gross domestic product to 5% GDP.
European countries began increasing their defense spending also in part due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago.
