Rumors spread that the US is planning to leave the NATO command post

The administration of US President Donald Trump is said to be considering a plan to deeply reform the US military command structure, including the US giving up its role as NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR).

The United States has held the SACEUR role for more than 70 years since Dwight D. Eisenhower, a World War II general and the 34th US President, laid the foundation in 1951. However, in an unprecedented move, the Trump administration is considering changing that, NBC News reported, citing two defense officials familiar with the plan.

Troops of NATO member states exercise in Romania on February 19, 2025

Abandoning SACEUR would at least be a major symbolic shift in the balance of power of NATO, which was founded in 1949 and has played a key role in the European security architecture since World War II. If the US abandons SACEUR, NATO members would be forced to choose other countries to fill the void.

The position of SACEUR has been held by some of the most famous names in American history, including Mr. Alexander Haig - former US Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff, Mr. John Shalikashvili - Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and Mr. Wesley Clark, US presidential candidate in 2004.

The Trump administration has not commented on the revelation of the plan. There is no information on the reaction of NATO officials.

Budget cutting efforts

President Trump and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have repeatedly stressed that European allies must take more responsibility for their own defense. Mr. Trump frequently criticizes NATO members for failing to meet defense spending standards.

Faced with this situation, Mr. Trump is considering a major policy change, according to NBC News. Accordingly, the US may not even defend a NATO country if it is attacked - which is a core principle of the alliance - in case the country fails to meet defense spending requirements.

In addition, the Trump administration is also considering a number of other potential changes, including merging the European Command (EUCOM) and Africa Command (AFRICOM) into a single command based in Stuttgart, Germany, as well as merging the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) with the Northern Command (NORTHCOM).

Trump administration considers withdrawing from NATO command position

The restructuring proposals come as President Trump is slashing spending and staffing across the federal government. Merging the commands could help the military cut staffing levels that overlap, saving on operating costs, according to officials familiar with the plans.

If all the plans are implemented, the US could save up to $270 million in the first year, according to NBC News, citing internal Pentagon documents. That savings, while large, represents only about 0.03% of the US Department of Defense 's $850 billion annual budget.

In addition, the Pentagon also plans to move hundreds of employees from its headquarters to Suffolk, Virginia (USA), cutting 375 civilian employees in the fields of planning, cyberspace and force development, with a total expected savings of 470 million USD over 5 years.

The missile defense component of the US Space Command is also likely to be eliminated in the restructuring. The missile defense mission is already fulfilled by other services and combatant commands and can therefore be eliminated without affecting the overall operations of the military, NBC News reported, citing the US Department of Defense.

What do the experts say?

Some experts say the cost of the Trump administration's restructuring and reform plan outweighs the benefits.

"The US relinquishing the role of NATO Supreme Allied Commander would be seen in Europe as a significant signal that the US is distancing itself from the alliance," former Admiral James Stavridis, who served as SACEUR and head of U.S. European Command (2009-2013), wrote in an email.

"It would be a huge political mistake, and once we leave, the US will not have the opportunity to come back. We will lose a lot of influence in NATO, and this can be seen as the first step to leaving the alliance completely," said Mr. Stavridis. The US admiral also said that merging EUCOM and AFRICOM could pose great risks because these areas are too large for any individual to manage.

Retired General Ben Hodges, former senior US Army commander in Europe, said President Trump's plan to restructure military command after just two months in office appears to be motivated by cost-cutting and not a comprehensive new military strategy.

Mr. Hodges warned that the Trump administration’s move could erode U.S. influence in Europe. The U.S. could also lose access to key naval and air bases in Italy, Germany, Poland, and Spain — strategic locations that help the U.S. maintain influence and respond quickly to crises.

Additionally, cuts to the US Space Command's missile defense component have raised concerns about a long-term lack of expertise.

The US is also likely to halt plans to expand its forces in Japan, saving about $1.18 billion. The Pentagon document admits this could weaken its ability to control west of the prime meridian and cause tension with a key ally in Asia.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ro-tin-my-len-kich-ban-roi-khoi-ghe-chi-huy-nato-185250319165421597.htm