The move aligns with Trump’s administration call for the military alliance, long dominated by the United States, to become a “European-led NATO” In a significant shift within NATO’s command structure, the United States has agreed to transfer leadership of two major operational commands – Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) in Naples, Italy, and Joint Force Command (JFC) Norfolk in Virginia – to European officers, according to a Reuters exclusive published on Monday. These posts, currently held by U.S. admirals, oversee critical aspects of alliance operations, including multinational forces in the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions. In return, the U.S. will assume control of three component commands: Allied Air Command, Allied Maritime Command, and Allied Land Command, which are hierarchically subordinate but vital for day-to-day military coordination. A NATO official described the move as part of a broader redistribution where European allies, including newer members, will take on “a more prominent role in the Alliance’s military leadership,” emphasizing that it pertains to “planning for future rotations.” This development aligns directly with U.S. President Donald Trump’s longstanding push to compel European nations to shoulder more responsibility for their security. It comes amid heightened transatlantic tensions, with Trump administration officials reportedly setting ambitious deadlines, such as a 2027 target for Europe to assume the majority of NATO’s conventional defence capabilities, from intelligence to missiles – though some European officials view this timeline as unrealistic due to capability gaps. NATO’s command structure: a brief overview NATO’s military framework is built around a hierarchical command structure established during the Cold War to ensure unified defence against threats. At the top sits the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), traditionally a U.S. general who also heads U.S. European Command (EUCOM), integrating American and alliance forces. Below this are strategic commands like the JFCs in Naples and Norfolk, which handle operational planning, exercises, and crisis response across theaters. The component commands (air, land, maritime) focus on domain-specific capabilities. Historically, the U.S. has dominated these roles, providing nuclear deterrence, advanced intelligence, and logistical enablers that Europe has relied upon. This transfer represents a rare reconfiguration, potentially paving the way for further “Europeanisation,” such as appointing Europeans to more four-star positions while U.S. officers serve as deputies. The evolution of European strategic autonomy The concept of European strategic autonomy emerged in the mid-2010s as a response to multiple shocks: Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, Brexit’s impact on EU unity, and uncertainties in U.S. commitment during Trump’s first term (2017-2021). Defined broadly as the EU’s ability to act independently in foreign policy, security, and defence when necessary, it encompasses building industrial capacity, technological sovereignty, and military capabilities to reduce overreliance on external partners – particularly the U.S. Key milestones include the 2017 launch of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) for joint defence projects, the European Defence Fund (EDF) to boost R&D, and the 2022 Strategic Compass, which outlined a roadmap for rapid deployment forces and hybrid threat responses. Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine accelerated these efforts, prompting the EU to prioritize territorial defence over traditional crisis management abroad. By 2025, initiatives like the “ReArm Europe” program formalized investments in procurement and industrial partnerships, complementing NATO rather than competing with it. However, debates persist: France advocates for a robust “European pillar” within NATO, while others, like NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, warn that full autonomy is “dreaming” due to the prohibitive costs of replicating U.S. nuclear and intelligence assets. With Reuters, additional reporting by g.g. Caption: A US flag next to a NATO badge on a pilot’s uniform at the NATO Air Base in Geilenkirchen, Germany, 13 November 2025. EPA/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

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