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For nearly 75 years, the United States has held the position of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), a role first occupied by World War II hero and future president Dwight D. Eisenhower.
However, the Pentagon is now considering relinquishing this powerful post as part of a broader military restructuring effort, according to two defense officials and a Pentagon briefing reviewed by NBC News.
The SACEUR, who also heads U.S. European Command, plays a central role in coordinating military support to Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia. If the U.S. steps away from the role, NATO’s European members would have to select a new leader among themselves, a move that would significantly alter the alliance’s power dynamics.
“For the United States to give up the role of supreme allied commander of NATO would be seen in Europe as a significant signal of walking away from the alliance,” said retired Adm. James Stavridis, who served as SACEUR from 2009 to 2013. “It would be a political mistake of epic proportion, and once we give it up, they are not going to give it back.”
The restructuring plan, which also includes consolidating U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is part of an effort to cut costs and streamline operations. If implemented, these changes could save up to $270 million in the first year—just 0.03% of the Defense Department’s $850 billion budget.
However, critics argue that the plan prioritizes cost-cutting over strategic military considerations. Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commander of U.S. Army Europe, warned that such reductions could weaken U.S. influence and military readiness.
“What strategic analysis led them to want to do this?” Hodges said. “This clearly smells like a cost-cutting thing rather than a strategic decision.”
Other proposed changes include closing U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Florida and merging it with U.S. Northern Command, as well as transferring hundreds of Pentagon-based personnel to Suffolk, Virginia.
While the Pentagon has not commented on the restructuring, the proposal aligns with the Trump administration’s push for European nations to take greater responsibility for their defense. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members for failing to meet the alliance’s defense spending targets and has even suggested that the U.S. might not defend countries that do not meet those obligations.
If NATO allies interpret this move as the first step toward broader U.S. disengagement, it could reshape the transatlantic security landscape in ways that may be difficult to reverse.
