NATO German Representative: "A Core Responsibility of the United States"
Matthew Whitaker, the United States Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has expressed his desire to transfer NATO's overall military operational command authority to Germany.
According to the British daily The Telegraph on the 23rd (local time), Ambassador Whitaker attended a security conference held in Berlin, Germany, on the 18th and stated, "I look forward to the day when Germany comes to the United States and says, 'We are ready to take on the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).'" He added, "While that day is still far off, I hope such discussions will take place," emphasizing, "The goal everyone should aspire to is for Europe's military capabilities to reach the level of the United States."
The position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe oversees all NATO military operations, and it has been customary for the Commander of United States European Command to serve concurrently in this role to coordinate Atlantic military operations. Since the appointment of the first commander, General Dwight Eisenhower, a four-star U.S. general has held this position without exception for 75 years. This symbolizes the United States' commitment to European security.
After President Donald Trump took office, there were speculations that the United States might hand over this position to Europe. However, when General Alexis Grinkewich, Director for Operations of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, was nominated in June, there was a sense of relief within Europe. Nevertheless, with Ambassador Whitaker once again publicly mentioning the possibility of transferring command authority, a sense of unease is now being felt across Europe.
The German side immediately expressed its reluctance. General Wolfgang Wien, Germany's representative to NATO, drew a line during a panel discussion, saying, "I see things a bit differently." He argued that while Germany is willing to take on more responsibility within NATO, the role of Supreme Allied Commander is a core responsibility of the United States.
After his remarks, Ambassador Whitaker posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "My message is that allies must fulfill their obligations from the Hague Summit." He urged, "Invest in defense, strengthen industrial cooperation, build resilience, and protect cohesion."
Previously, at the NATO summit held in The Hague, Netherlands, in June, member countries pledged to allocate 5% of their annual gross domestic product (GDP) to defense spending by 2035, in response to President Trump's demands.
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