The USA is planning to reorganize its defense policy. The European command Eucom is to be subordinated to a new “International Command”. In addition, Defense Minister Hegseth wants to significantly reduce the number of four-star generals.
According to the Washington Post, the USA is facing a comprehensive reorganization of its defense policy. Among other things, the European Command (Eucom) in Stuttgart should be downgraded and placed under a new “International Command,” the paper reported on Tuesday, citing insiders. In addition, on the orders of Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, the number of four-star generals should be significantly reduced.
According to the Washington Post, US Chief of Staff Dan Caine plans to report to Hegseth in the coming days. According to the newspaper, the plans amount to the largest reshuffle at the top of the US military in decades.
The aim is therefore to unify and streamline the international US command structure. The European Command and the Africa Command (Africom) – both with headquarters in Stuttgart – as well as the Central Command (Centcom) in Tampa in the US state of Florida are to be subordinated to an “International Command” in the future. Centcom is responsible for the Middle East as well as parts of Asia and North Africa.
In addition, according to the report, the number of generals and admirals who report directly to Hegseth will be reduced. The head of the Pentagon, who now calls himself the “secretary of war,” had already announced a reduction of at least 20 percent in May. Hegseth and US President Donald Trump as commander in chief must agree to the new order.
A Pentagon spokesman did not comment on the report when asked. What the project would mean for NATO is still unclear. However, a new security strategy presented at the beginning of December places the entire US policy under Trump’s motto “America first”.
NATO has long expected the US to reduce the number of its soldiers in Europe in order to focus more on the Indo-Pacific and the rivalry with China. The US Senate is expected to pass a defense bill (NDAA) in the coming days that would limit troop withdrawals in Europe. The draft stipulates that the Trump administration cannot reduce the number of forces in Europe below 76,000 in the long term. The House of Representatives had already approved the plans last week. (APA/AFP)