Germany will soon occupy more top positions in NATO's military command structure than the United States as a result of a new distribution of responsibilities, reported dpa, quoting sources.
The move is part of a shift towards a fairer distribution of burdens and responsibilities within NATO, the alliance stated in a statement released on Tuesday.
"Allies agreed on a new distribution of senior officer responsibility across the NATO Command Structure in which European Allies, including NATO’s newest members, will play a more prominent role in the Alliance’s military leadership," NATO said in a statement.
At the same time, NATO made it clear that the US will continue to assume military leadership responsibilities – for example, by continuing to hold the position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).
The US has reaffirmed a strong commitment to NATO, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone explained as chairman of the NATO Military Committee.
The changes in the allocation of positions foresee that the United Kingdom will take over command of the Joint Force Command Norfolk in the US state of Virginia from the US, and Italy will take over command of the Allied Joint Force Command in Naples from the US.
Germany and Poland will also share command of the Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands on a rotational basis, NATO said.
All three Joint Force Commands led by Europeans
As a result of the planned changes, all three Joint Force Commands will be led by Europeans in the future. The four-star commands lead in crises and conflicts at the operational level under the strategic command of the SACEUR.
The United States, on the other hand, will lead all three Component Commands at the level of strategic operational areas and will also newly assume responsibility for the NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) in Northwood, United Kingdom.
They already lead the Allied Land Command in Turkey (LANDCOM) and the Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) at the Ramstein base in Germany.
The fact that Germany will soon be so strongly represented in the command structure is due to the fact that, in addition to the three and four-star generals in the aforementioned commands, other general positions are also counted.
The changes are to be gradually implemented in the coming years – in line with established personnel rotations.
- Germany
- NATO
- US
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
