The United States wants Germany to take over the command of Nato forces in Europe, Donald Trump’s envoy to the alliance has said.
Matthew Whitaker, the US ambassador to Nato, said he is looking forward to Germany stepping up to take over the position of supreme allied commander Europe (Saceur).
He told the Berlin Security Conference: “I look forward to the day when Germany comes to the United States and says that we’re ready to take over the supreme allied commander position. I think we’re a long way away from that, but I look forward to those discussions.”
His comments were a shock to the panellists, with Germany’s representative to Nato and the EU responding that he “see[s] it a little bit differently”.
Lt Gen Wolfgang Wien told the panel that his country was willing to take on more responsibilities within the international organisation, but sees the Saceur as US territory.
The Saceur is one of Nato’s two strategic commanders and is at the head of Allied Command Operations.
Traditionally, the position is held by a US commander. The current Saceur is General Alexus G Grynkewich, who took up his functions on 4 July 2025.
In a post on X about the conference, Mr Whitaker said his message is that the allies “must deliver on Hague Summit obligations”.
He listed these as “invest in defence, boost industrial cooperation, build resilience, protect cohesion – our greatest strategic advantage”.
The European Union rolled out a new defence package on Wednesday to allow tanks and troops to deploy more rapidly across the many borders of the 27-nation bloc in the event of a conflict, as concern mounts that Russia is already probing its defences.
Europe’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said that spending on defence now might avert war.
“Weakness invites them to make their move,” she said, speaking of Russia. She said if the EU “increases its defensive capabilities and readiness, then Russia will not attack because we are not weak”.
The new military mobility proposal by the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, would invest €17.65bn ($20.4bn) into 500 locations that have been identified as choke points, such as bridges, ports and tunnels currently unable to handle heavy traffic and vehicles.
The defence package underscored a change in geopolitics spurred on by Donald Trump, who has called into question 80 years of cooperation based on the understanding that the US would help protect European nations following World War Two.
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