The United States believes that it abandons its long-standing NATO role
But now, the Trump administration is considering a fundamental shift in long-standing practice. According to NBC News, the United States is considering taking the SACEUR role as part of a broader effort to save money in the federal government.
“For the United States, abandoning the role of supreme Allied commander will be seen as a major signal to stay away from the alliance,” the retired James Stavridis, a former Saceur and head of the European Command, said. He also mentioned: “We will lose a huge influence in NATO, which may be correct, and this may be the first step to leaving the league altogether,” NBC News quoted.
The United States promotes greater European defense responsibility
According to NBC News, U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed that the government wants European partners to take more responsibility for Europe’s defense. According to the report, Trump also criticized NATO allies for failing to meet the coalition’s defense spending target, which requires each country to spend a percentage of GDP on defense.
Military Restructuring: The Most Frontier Cost Savings
According to NBC News, potential restructuring plans could also include a merger of U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command into a commander in Stuttgart, Germany, and a command to combine U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Florida with U.S. Northern Command, according to NBC News.
NBC News reported that the proposed reforms will eliminate money by reducing employees with overlapping responsibilities. According to NBC, these changes will save up to $270 million in the first year of the plan alone. According to the report, potential savings will account for nearly 0.03% of the Department of Defense’s $850 billion budget. Stavridis claims that “combining the US European Command and US African Command into one unit creates a command of a giant combatant, and in fact, any one is too large to be managed realistically by anyone.” He claims that “the control is smaller and the efficiency is higher,” as cited in the report.
Pentagon employee relocation plan
As part of the savings plan, the Pentagon also proposed relocating hundreds of joint staff from the Pentagon to a military facility in Suffolk, Virginia, such as NBC.
According to NBC, about 375 civilian positions can cut roles such as planning, networking and power development. According to the report, about 350 military personnel from the J-7 department will be reassigned.
The report said the cost of relocation will be reduced, but it is expected to save about $470 million in five years.
FAQ
Why does the United States plan to give up its role in Saceur?
According to NBC News, the Trump administration is considering positions as part of a broader cost-saving effort within the federal government.
What impact does abandoning the Saceur role have on NATO?
According to experts, it could significantly reduce NATO’s U.S. influence and convey a message that the U.S. may be moving away from the alliance.
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