By Brendan ColeShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberComments by President Donald Trump’s envoy to NATO suggesting that Germany take over the American role of the alliance's European commander signal Washington's disengagement from European security affairs, a retired U.S. Marine officer has told Newsweek.
Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, told the Berlin Security Conference earlier this month that he hoped a German would become Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), overseeing the alliance’s military activities in Europe, a role that has been held by an American since NATO’s inception.
Whitaker’s comments follow rumors the U.S. wants to step back from the role and suggest the Trump administration would like to see Germany replace the U.S. as Europe’s main security guarantor.
Butch Bracknell, a retired Marine officer with NATO deployments to SFOR and ISAF, and a NATO civilian for over eight years, told Newsweek that such a move would mean the U.S. would give up influence and the ability to steer the alliance’s military functions.
Newsweek has contacted NATO and the German defense ministry for comment.
...Why It Matters
Whitaker’s comments follow Trump’s rhetoric about the alliance, whose European members he has criticized for not spending enough on defense. Although analysts have raised concerns about the U.S. role in defending Europe, Whitaker told the Berlin conference the Trump administration was still committed to NATO.
Whitaker also said he was impressed by Berlin's efforts to increase defense spending, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz this year pledging to build the “strongest conventional army” in Europe. Roger Hilton, defense fellow at the think tank GLOBSEC, told Newsweek that Whitaker’s comments show that the U.S. intends to continue its realignment of assets out of Europe and views Asia the main geopolitical priority.
What To Know
An American has been in command of SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) since Dwight D. Eisenhower, a World War II hero and later U.S. president, assumed command in 1950. The post is currently held by General Alexus G. Grynkewich of the US Air Force.
Whitaker told the Berlin security conference that he looked forward to the day when Germany said it was ready to take over the position, although he added “we’re a long way away from that,” according to U.K. newspaper the Telegraph.
Lieutenant General Wolfgang Wien, Germany’s representative to NATO and the EU, said he was surprised by the suggestion and that while Berlin could take on new responsibilities, the post was regarded as primarily an American responsibility, the Telegraph reported.
Bracknell told Newsweek that in any NATO operational command, Americans are almost always inserted into key positions.
...This means that the U.S. exerts some control over the alliance, which the Europeans agree to because it “helps keep the Americans hyper engaged,” despite the geographical distance, he said.
However, Bracknell said the U.S. giving up the SACEUR role to a European would mean a loss of U.S. influence in NATO and be a sign of U.S. disengagement from Europe. He also said there were four-star officers from lots of NATO nations, not just Germany, who could also meet that challenge.
Hilton said that Whitaker was signaling that the U.S. views Asia as the primary geopolitical theater and would realign its assets out of Europe.
He did not assess Whitaker's comments as a major faux-pas or threat to transatlantic affairs, as they stressed a lengthy time frame and suggested military capabilities between transatlantic partners would eventually be equal.
Whitaker’s statement has also given Berlin a major vote of confidence, maybe even an ego boost, Hilton said, adding that substituting an American for a European as SACEUR, would represent a new phase in Europe handling its security, still underpinned by the U.S.
What People Are Saying
Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, per the Telegraph: “I look forward to the day when Germany comes to the United States and says that we’re ready to take over the Supreme Allied Commander position. I think we’re a long way away from that.”
Roger Hilton, defense fellow at the think tank GLOBSEC: “The comments from Ambassador Whitaker showcase the clearest signaling that the U.S. views Asia as the primary geopolitical theater, and that it intends to continue its realignment of assets out of Europe.”
Butch Bracknell, retired Marine officer with NATO deployments: “If the U.S. gives up SACEUR to a European, we should be clear-eyed that we are giving up a ton of influence and ability to steer NATO's military functions and it will be interpreted by the Europeans as a clear signal of American disengagement from European security affairs.”
What Happens Next
Whitaker suggested there had been no imminent move for Germany to take over the SACEUR role but Berlin continues its policy of beefing up its armed forces with increased spending and recruitment, which could change its influence within NATO.
German lawmakers vote next month on legislation requiring all 18-year-old men to fill out a questionnaire about their fitness and willingness to perform military service.
A Bundeswehr spokesperson told Newsweek that “the threat situation for Europe and Germany has worsened significantly since 2022,” the year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and as such, NATO and its allies have adjusted their capability targets.
This will result in a future total military requirement for the Bundeswehr of approximately 460,000 soldiers, an increase in personnel numbers to approximately 260,000 active soldiers and around 200,000 reservists by the middle of the next decade.
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