NATO's new Commander in Europe... Who is he?

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The US Department of Defense said on Tuesday that Joe Biden has nominated US Army General Christopher Cavoli to be commander of NATO's forces in Europe.

The Secretary of Defense announced today Cavoli's appointment to the grade of general, according to a statement by the Department of Defense.

NATO agreed with Biden's decision, according to the statement, adding that Cavoli will oversee 100,000 US troops and 40,000 allied troops deployed on the continent.

Since the war in Ukraine began, Biden deployed 20,000 troops to Europe. 80,000 troops had already been stationed there, while NATO has deployed troops to Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.

The US Army General is an expert on Eurasia, and an officer of the Afghan War, who is also currently serving as the commander of US Army forces in Europe and Africa, a position he assumed in October 2020. Before then he served as commander of the US Army Europe from January 2018 to October 2020.

Cavoli served as the Director for Russia on the Joint Staff. He speaks Italian, Russian and French.

In a historic first, NATO deployed in late February its rapid response to bolster its eastern flank. In this "historic" deployment, the 40,000-strong response force will be ready year-round and will be able to respond within two or three days when a security crisis emerges.