U.S. to appoint new commander of NATO allied forces in Europe
President Biden is expected to appoint new generals to the positions of Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander of United States Special Operations Command, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
Per the Journal, Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the current commander of U.S. Army Europe, will take command of all NATO forces in Europe — a force that comprises some 100,000 U.S. troops plus another 40,000 from NATO allies — this summer after Air Force Gen. Ted Wolters rotates out of the role. Wolters' term as commander was extended so he could oversee NATO's initial response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Army Lt. Gen. Bryan Fenton will replace retiring Gen. Richard Clarke as head of U.S. Special Operations Command, which "oversees special operations around the world," according to the Journal.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The U.S. isn't the only country switching up its top brass. On Friday, a Western official told BBC that Russia had appointed Gen. Alexander Dvornikov who commands Russia's southern military district and led Russia's brutal intervention in the Syrian Civil War.
Previously, analysts believed Russia's war effort lacked a single frontline commander and was instead being directed from Moscow.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
The great global copper swindleUnder the Radar Rising prices and easy access makes the metal a ‘more attractive target for criminals looking for a quick profit’
-
‘They’re nervous about playing the game’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Will Netanyahu get a pardon?Today's Big Question Opponents say yes, if he steps down
-
Is conscription the answer to Europe’s security woes?Today's Big Question How best to boost troop numbers to deal with Russian threat is ‘prompting fierce and soul-searching debates’
-
The Baltic ‘bog belt’ plan to protect Europe from RussiaUnder the Radar Reviving lost wetland on Nato’s eastern flank would fuse ‘two European priorities that increasingly compete for attention and funding: defence and climate’
-
How should Nato respond to Putin’s incursions?Today’s big question Russia has breached Nato airspace regularly this month, and nations are primed to respond
-
Russia’s war games and the threat to NatoIn depth Incursion into Poland and Zapad 2025 exercises seen as a test for Europe
-
How long can Nato keep Donald Trump happy?Today's Big Question Military alliance pulls out all the stops to woo US president on his peacemaker victory lap
-
Is UK's new defence plan transformational or too little, too late?Today's Big Question Labour's 10-year strategy 'an exercise in tightly bounded ambition' already 'overshadowed by a row over money'
-
Is the 'coalition of the willing' going to work?Today's Big Question PM's proposal for UK/French-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine provokes 'hostility' in Moscow and 'derision' in Washington
-
Is Europe's defence too reliant on the US?Today's Big Question As the UK and EU plan to 're-arm', how easy will it be to disentangle from US equipment and support?
