The administration of Donald Trump is to consider giving up commanding NATO's allied forces in Europe – American media report. This would mean a break with a 75-year tradition. They were commander -in -chief of the joined forces of the North Atlantic Alliance in Europe, Admiral James Stavridis assessed in an interview with NBC News that it would be a “large -scale mistake”.
The plan to withdraw the US from traditional command of NATO forces in Europe (the Supreme Command of the Allied forces in Europe – Saceur) is to be dictated by the desire to cut costs Pentagon NBC News said on Tuesday evening, citing two sources in the armed forces and the internal briefing of the American Ministry of Defense.
The function of the Supreme Commander of allied forces in Europe was until now an American, four -star general, who cooperated with the NATO representative of Europe – reminds Bulwark.
It is not clear how long the restructuring of individual US commands may take place. One of the plans being considered is the possible combination of the European United States Command (EUCOM), whose commander is also the head of the NATO armed forces in Europe, with the US command in Africa (US Africa Command) – said NBC News interlocutors.
Read also: Trump and Zelnski after the conversation.
“This would be perceived as the first step to a completely exit from the Alliance”
Admiral James Stavridis, were the commander-in-chief of joined NATO forces in Europe (2009-2013), assessed that “the US devoted the role of the highest NATO commander would be received in Europe as a significant signal.” – It would be a large scale mistake, and if we do it once, there will be no turning back. (…) This would probably be perceived, otherwise rightly, as the first step to a completely exit (USA) from the Alliance, ”added Stavridis in an interview with NBC News.
The full implementation of the plans considered by the current administration, regarding cuts of costs by eliminating some commands and main quarters in the world and in the US, would save $ 270 million in the first year, i.e. about 0.03 percent. Pentagon budget.
“It would be another step to the end of America”
“It is amazingly stupid. In exchange for minimal savings in the budget of the Ministry of Defense (…) Trump's administration wants to give up the organizational structure (NATO), which works well and for 75 years was a symbol of our role as a free world leader,” comments Bulwark.
“Compared to the destruction of the rule of law in the country or betraying Ukraine abroad (…) it would probably not be the worst thing that the Trump administration did. But it would be harmful. And it would be another step towards America's end of America, another symbol of his symbol” – concludes the portal.
Boulevard is a portal and a blog platform, specializing in political and cultural themes, founded by the environment of republican neoconservatives who are critically disabled to Trump and belong to the supporters of traditional republican US foreign policy.
Author/author: sz/ft
Source: PAP
Source of the main photo: US Army Photo by Staff sgt. Megan Leuck/DVIDS