Army Secretary’s Comments Frustrate NATO Allies in Brussels

In a recent report, Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin provided insights into the ongoing U.S. military operations in the Middle East. The coverage highlighted the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, alongside the crucial role the Strait of Hormuz plays in U.S.-Iran discussions. Notably, USCENTCOM has confirmed the safe passage of 55 commercial ships transporting over 17 million barrels of oil.

Amid this backdrop, the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa is preparing for a leadership change, as Gen. Christopher Donahue steps down after around 18 months in his role. This resignation has been confirmed by military sources and is set to take effect on July 2. Donahue, who also commands NATO Allied Land Forces, has chosen to resign at the request of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who is aiming to reduce the general officer count and focus on replenishing troop numbers. His resignation marks the latest in a series of exits, with over 20 military leaders leaving or opting for early retirement under Hegseth’s direction.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie will succeed Donahue when he steps down. Donahue gained significant recognition as the last U.S. soldier to exit Afghanistan in August 2021, symbolizing the conclusion of America’s nearly two-decade-long engagement following the September 11 attacks. His departure from Afghanistan was dramatically captured in a night vision photo taken as he boarded a cargo plane.

At the time of the evacuation, Donahue led the 82nd Airborne Division and had been tasked with overseeing security at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the frantic evacuation process. While Marines provided security at a critical airport gate, that area fell victim to a suicide bombing executed by ISIS-K, resulting in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members along with many Afghan civilians. Despite some criticisms surrounding the overall withdrawal strategy, Donahue’s management of the airlift, which saw 124,000 Afghans evacuated, received bipartisan commendation.

President Biden appointed Donahue to his current position in December 2024, following a storied career that began with his graduation from West Point. His background includes commanding special operations forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and he has more recently played a significant role in coordinating military support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Consequently, Donahue has emerged as an Army authority on drone warfare.

His imminent departure aligns with broader discussions within the Army about possibly downgrading the Army Europe and Africa command from a four-star to a three-star designation. This consideration comes on the heels of Hegseth’s announcement during his recent address to NATO allies, where he stated he would lead a comprehensive six-month review of U.S. forces in Europe.

Hegseth underscored the importance of the review, stressing an objective of fortifying NATO and expediting European defense responsibilities. “This will be a real review, aimed at strengthening NATO to move rapidly and irreversibly towards European leadership,” he told NATO officials. Such a review may yield varying results across member countries, with some succeeding while others struggle to meet expectations.

The Pentagon has yet to comment on Donahue’s resignation. Since he has not accrued the necessary four-star retirement benefits within the required three years, achieving them would necessitate a presidential waiver. The discussions surrounding Donahue’s departure reflect ongoing shifts in military leadership and strategy during a very transformative period.