The United States will transfer leadership of two major NATO command posts—to European officers—as part of a broader reshuffle of the alliance’s military structure, a source told Reuters on Monday.
Under the plan, European officers will take over NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, and Joint Force Command Norfolk in Virginia, both currently led by US admirals. The move aligns with longstanding calls from US President Donald Trump for European nations to assume greater responsibility for their own security, advancing the vision of a “European-led NATO.”
While Europe assumes command of the alliance’s top-tier posts, the United States will continue to lead three other commands—Allied Air Command, Allied Maritime Command, and Allied Land Command. These commands sit slightly lower in the hierarchy but retain significant operational responsibilities, according to a military source and another person familiar with the plan.
A NATO official confirmed the shift, stating that “allies have 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.”
The official added that the decision is part of “planning for future rotations” and that further details would be announced in due course.
The command changes were earlier reported by French outlet La Lettre and by Politico, highlighting a significant step in reshaping NATO’s leadership balance and reinforcing Europe’s growing role in the alliance’s strategic operations.
Melissa Enoch
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