Trump is considering giving up US NATO Command in Europe

The American administration is considering breaking up with a 75-year-old tradition that the US is liable for commanding the NATO Alliance Force in Europe. Given Donald Trump's aversion to the Alliance, this is not surprising, but "awesomely stupid" - reported the Bulwark portal.

U.S. withdrawal plan with conventional NATO forces in Europe (SACEUR) to be dictated by the desire to cut Pentagon costs - reported NBC News tv on Tuesday evening, citing 2 sources in the armed forces and the interior briefing of the American Ministry of Defence.

The position of Chief Commander of the Alliance Force in Europe was so far an American, four-star general who worked with NATO's leading typical of Europe - reminds Bulwark.

It's not clear how long it can take restructuring of individual US Armed Forces Commands. 1 of the plans under consideration is simply a possible merger of the United States Command (EUCOM), whose commander is besides the head of NATO's armed forces in Europe, with the U.S. Africa Command (U.S. Africa Command) commanders, reported NBC News.

Admiral James Stavridis, erstwhile commander-in-chief of NATO's combined forces in Europe (2009-2013), estimated that "the U.S.'s function as ultimate commander of NATO's allied forces would be perceived in Europe as a crucial signal".

"It would be a immense mistake.And erstwhile we do, there will be no turning back... This would most likely be seen, otherwise rightly, as the first step to a complete exit (US) from the Alliance" - added Stavridis in an interview with NBC News.

Cost reduction

Full implementation of the cost-cutting plans under consideration by the current administration by eliminating certain global and US office and office would allow Save $270 million in the first year., or about 0.03% of the Pentagon budget.

"It's amazingly stupid. In exchange for the minimum savings in the budget of the Ministry of Defence (...) Trump's administration wants to quit the organisational structure (NATO) which works well and for 75 years it has been a symbol of our function as leader of the free world" - comments Bulwark.

"In comparison to the demolition of the regulation of law in the country or the betrayal of Ukraine abroad (...) this would most likely not be the worst thing the Trump administration has done. But it would be harmful. And it would be another step towards the end of America, another symbol of it" - concluded the portal.

Bulwark (bastion) is simply a blog portal and platform (substack), specialized in political and cultural themes, founded by the community of Republican neoconservatives who are critically prone to Trump and are among the supporters of conventional Republican abroad policy of the United States.

Source: PAP