U.S. Wants To Hand Over NATO's Command In Europe To Germany
5- 20.11.2025, 19:16
- 6,316
For the first time in 70 years.
The US administration would like Germany to take command of NATO forces in Europe. U.S. Ambassador to the Alliance Matthew Whitaker said this during the Berlin Security Conference on November 18, he was quoted by The Times.
He noted that this is Washington's long-term ambition amid Europe taking greater responsibility for its defense.
The media noted that the White House first considered such a possibility in the spring after Donald Trump returned to power. At the time, senior Republicans in Congress discouraged the president, as they had been asked to do by European diplomats.
Whitaker praised Germany for supporting increased defense spending and called Berlin a "shining example" for other allies, urging them to "step up" and emulate the FRG in "strengthening the Alliance's deterrent capability and ... supporting Ukraine," the article said.
When asked whether a militarily stronger Europe would cause complications for the United States, he said he looked forward to the day when Germany would come to the U.S. and declare its willingness to take over command of NATO forces in Europe. According to Whitaker, that is still a long way off, but he is "looking forward to those discussions." The diplomat suggested that it could happen "in 15 years, maybe even sooner."
The Times noted that such a statement by Whitaker "caused a shock" to German NATO general Wolfgang Wien, who was sitting next to him. He said he was "surprised to hear the information" and that Germany was not yet considering the position of commander-in-chief of NATO forces in Europe for itself.
The author of the article noted that throughout the history of the Alliance, the position of commander-in-chief of NATO forces in Europe has invariably been held by a U.S. general for 70 years. The rationale was that in the event of war, the commander must oversee a large-scale deployment of U.S. troops, potentially including nuclear weapons, and therefore needs a close relationship with and full confidence of the U.S. president.
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