Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, expressed concerns that changing the military command structure could damage US-EU cooperation and please the Kremlin.
“This connection between the US, nuclear forces, and Europe will be removed, separating the US from NATO. Intelligence channels and NATO channels will be torn apart,” Clark said.
Russian President and many of my paid expenses while serving as Commander-in-Chief of NATO. So, there’s no significant saving on this. It’s a gift for Putin.
The Pentagon is considering plans to give up its status as NATO’s highest alliance commander in Europe (SACEUR), reported by NBC News on Tuesday.
Congressional Republicans have raised concerns about the proposal.
A joint statement from House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said, “The US combat order is part of the American combat spear, and we are concerned about the reported plan.”
Former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) argued that if the US acts on the proposal, it would significantly weaken the NATO alliance, which the US has held for nearly 75 years.
“Hoarding American leadership will not strengthen NATO or US interests. If you are serious about encouraging more capable European allies, retreating from your position as leader of the Transatlantic Alliance is a strange way to show it,” McConnell said.
Trump previously criticized top European military powers for not spending enough on NATO, an agreement established in 1949.
Some Republicans, such as Senator Mike Lee (R-UTAH), supported this vision in the GOP-controlled Senate
