US to Hand over Key NATO Command Centers to European Officers

The United States will transfer leadership of two major NATO command centers to European officers, in a move aimed at shifting more responsibility for regional security to European allies, according to a military source cited by Reuters on Monday.

The two facilities are NATO’s Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, and the Allied Command Transformation headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. Both are currently led by US admirals, but under the planned reorganization, European officers will assume command roles at the two strategic sites.

The decision aligns with President Donald Trump’s long-standing calls for European countries to shoulder a greater share of the burden for their own defense and for the US-dominated alliance to move toward what his administration has described as more European-led leadership structures.

A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the leadership shift is part of a broader restructuring of NATO’s command architecture. While European officers will take charge of the two major headquarters, the United States will continue to lead three other highly influential NATO commands responsible for air, maritime and land forces.

A separate source familiar with the matter confirmed that Washington will retain operational leadership of these three subordinate but critical command centers, ensuring continued US involvement in key alliance military functions.

In response to questions about the changes, a NATO official said allies had agreed on a new distribution of senior officer responsibilities within the alliance’s command structure, adding that European members, including NATO’s newest entrants, will take on a more prominent role in military leadership.

The official said the decision is part of long-term planning for future leadership rotations, and that further details will be released at a later stage.