United States to Hand Over Senior NATO Commands to European Countries
The United States will transfer two senior NATO commands to European allies to enhance their role in the alliance's military leadership, according to diplomats.
Agence France-Presse reported on February 9 that Italy will assume the Naples command, focused on the alliance's southern flank, while Britain will take over the Norfolk command in Virginia, responsible for the northern flank. Washington will retain control of NATO naval forces based in Britain.
A NATO official stated that "this new distribution of responsibilities allows European allies and newer NATO members to play a more prominent role in the military leadership of the alliance."
The shifts align with U.S. pressure for increased European contributions to NATO's defense capabilities and are expected to take effect in the coming months. However, the United States will maintain NATO's primary air, land, and sea commands, as well as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe position.
Matthew Whitaker, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, emphasized that the objective is "to strengthen NATO and increase the operational capabilities of European allies."
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