NATO announced that two of its Joint Force Commands will transition from United States leadership to European command in the coming years, as US President Donald Trump continues to press European allies to shoulder a greater share of the alliance’s responsibilities.

In a statement issued ahead of this week’s meeting of NATO defense ministers, the alliance said the move “is part of a shift to more fairly sharing responsibility within NATO, with European allies taking on greater leadership roles in NATO's command structure.”

At the same time, NATO underscored that Washington will retain the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), describing it as “making clear the US commitment to NATO command and control.”

Shift comes after US pressure

The announcement follows the Trump administration’s release last month of its National Defense Strategy, which emphasizes that NATO allies should assume primary responsibility for Europe’s defense. The strategy outlines Washington’s intention to focus more heavily on homeland defense and deterring China.

Elbridge Colby, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and lead author of the strategy, is expected to attend the NATO Defense Ministerial this week in place of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. It will mark the first NATO defense ministerial that Hegseth has missed since taking office.

A Pentagon official told CBS News that the decision to transfer the commands was “made jointly among all allies.”

“The decision strengthens the alliance by showing European leadership in European defense and enhancing European defense capabilities,” the official added.

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Gradual transition of Joint Force Commands

The transition in leadership of the two Joint Force Commands will occur gradually over the next several years.

Under the new arrangement, Italy will assume leadership of Joint Force Command Naples. Germany and Poland will rotate command of Joint Force Command Brunssum, currently led by Germany. Once the changes are completed, all three Joint Force Commands responsible for leading operations during crises will be under European leadership.

The command in Norfolk, Virginia, NATO’s newest operational headquarters, focused on protecting the Atlantic and Arctic regions, will also transition to European leadership when a United Kingdom officer assumes command. The facilities at Norfolk, located on a larger US Navy installation, will remain under US Navy control.

US to lead functional commands

While relinquishing leadership of the crisis-response Joint Force Commands, the United States will take over the Allied Maritime Command, currently headed by a British vice admiral.

With that shift, Washington will lead NATO’s three functional commands: Allied Maritime Command, Allied Land Command, and Allied Air Command.

The position of SACEUR, responsible for commanding all NATO forces, will continue to be held by an American officer, as has always been the case. Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich, who currently oversees approximately 80,000 US service members under US European Command, serves as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

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