For decades, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) post has been held by a US general or admiral, but Washington may be signaling a change.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker suggested that Germany could assume the top military role in NATO in the future, describing it as an “aspirational goal” for European forces to match US capabilities. He emphasized that the idea is long-term and not imminent: “We’re a long way away from that, but I look forward to further discussions,” Whitaker said.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and several European officials acknowledged the growing expectation for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense, though many remain skeptical about the US giving up SACEUR due to its critical role in maintaining US command over troops stationed in Europe. Currently, around 78,000 US service members are stationed in Europe, including a reduced contingent in Romania.
Security analysts interpret Whitaker’s comments as part of a broader gradual US pivot away from European security, accelerated by Russia’s war in Ukraine and the recently leaked US-Russia peace plan, which appears to position the US more as a mediator than an active military actor.
A German SACEUR would no longer command US forces, potentially weakening NATO’s integrated command structure, according to Dr. Carlo Masala, a professor at Bundeswehr University Munich. He notes that while Germany is increasingly rearming and expanding its military capacity, changing the SACEUR alone would not Europeanize NATO if US engagement continues to decrease.
Germany has already embarked on a major military expansion: future defense spending above 1% of GDP will be exempt from the debt brake, and conscription will resume in January 2026. Analysts argue Germany is the only European country with the resources to lead this effort effectively, though political leadership in Berlin has not yet fully recognized the implications.
While a complete US withdrawal from NATO is unlikely, the ambassador’s statement underscores the growing pressure on Europe to assume a more autonomous defense role. Only countries like Germany and the UK could realistically replace US leadership in the alliance, analysts say.
