© Comic Dimension News — Visual illustration styled in classic comic book design, highlighting NATO’s command debate and its impact on European security.
NATO COMMAND IN QUESTION
Why Losing a US Commander Could Shake European Security
By Andrew Corbett, Senior Lecturer in Defence Studies, King’s College London
Adapted & styled by Comic Dimension News
For over 70 years, the top military role in NATO — the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) — has always gone to an American. Now, with shifting political dynamics, some are questioning whether that tradition should continue.
The concern isn’t just symbolic. The SACEUR has strategic command over NATO operations and directly influences Europe’s collective defense. Changing that post would shift both power and perception.
With war in Ukraine, budget debates, and growing political clout from EU powers, the idea of a European assuming control has emerged. But could this weaken NATO’s unity?
“There is no reason to change what has worked — and worked well — for generations.”
Andrew Corbett argues that America’s leadership in NATO has anchored its strategic coherence. Replacing that leadership, he warns, might lead to slower decision-making or fragmented responses during crises.
While the push for European military autonomy grows, the timing of such a leadership switch is questionable, especially with rising global threats and weakened alliances elsewhere.
The bottom line: NATO’s strength is in its coordination — and Corbett suggests removing the U.S. from the top command could jeopardize that. The alliance, he says, should stick with the formula that has kept it strong for decades.
