• The U.S. is transferring command of NATO's Naples and Norfolk regional posts to Italian and British officers, respectively, while taking over maritime command in the UK.
  • Implementation will unfold over months as part of President Trump's push for greater European responsibility in alliance defense, with about 200 U.S. personnel being withdrawn from NATO structures.
  • European NATO members have committed to increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP, supporting U.S. efforts to redirect resources to global challenges like China.

A Shift in NATO's Command Structure

In a significant realignment of NATO's operational framework, the U.S. is handing over command of two key regional posts—Naples, focused on southern Europe, to Italy, and Norfolk, with a northern emphasis, to Britain. Simultaneously, Washington will assume control of NATO's maritime command based in the UK. This move, first reported by French outlet La Lettre and confirmed by NATO diplomats, aligns with President Trump's longstanding call for Europe to take on more defense responsibilities, moving toward what some describe as a "European-led NATO."

Implementation of these command shifts is expected to take months, with NATO insiders viewing it as a practical step toward burden-sharing. According to people familiar with the matter, the changes come as the U.S. increasingly focuses its strategic attention on threats in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly from China. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged European allies to "step into the Arena" for continental security, a sentiment echoed in recent U.S. European Command discussions that emphasized enabling allies for primary defense roles.

Economic and Political Underpinnings

European NATO members have been ramping up their military budgets in response to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Last year, they agreed to hike the defense spending target, and at the June 2025 Hague summit, they committed to allocating 5% of GDP to defense, up from the prior 2% benchmark. This financial shift supports the U.S. strategy of redirecting resources, potentially giving a boost to European defense industries while straining national budgets amid lingering transatlantic tensions.

Politically, Trump's "America First" policies have rattled NATO's reliability, with demands for greater burden-sharing and recent controversies like Greenland claims testing alliance cohesion. However, U.S. Ambassador Matthew Whitaker insists the goal is to forge a stronger alliance of "32 strong and capable allies." Washington will retain core commands in air, land, and sea operations, as well as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe role, maintaining key strategic levers. Internationally, this shift signals potential further U.S. troop reductions in Europe, such as the planned withdrawal from Romania in October 2025, prompting a revised strategic posture despite approximately 80,000 U.S. personnel remaining on the continent.

Implications and Human Elements

European militaries now face pressure to fill gaps in command, transport, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and even nuclear sharing capabilities. If not adequately addressed, these gaps could weaken NATO's overall posture, analysts warn. The initial withdrawal of about 200 U.S. personnel, while symbolic, affects families and has sparked public debates on eroding transatlantic trust. Diplomats have praised the burden shifts as pragmatic, but experts caution about credibility risks against an assertive Russia.

In a brief statement, a NATO official noted that the alliance is "adapting to new strategic realities," while attempts to reach Italian and British defense ministries for additional comment were not immediately successful. Historically, the U.S. has dominated NATO leadership, with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe always being American, providing integrating effects that Europeans have relied on. Precedents include post-Cold War adjustments, but Trump's return marks what some call a "substantial disruption," diverging U.S. interests from multilateral commitments.

Looking ahead, the short-term outlook involves a gradual Europeanization of regional and support commands, such as Naples and Brunssum, to close capability gaps, with the U.S. holding onto strategic enablers. More withdrawals are likely following a strategic review. Long-term, Europe must prioritize deterrence essentials over mere spending increases, treating U.S. power as a "bonus" rather than a foundation, though full replacement of U.S. capabilities remains infeasible in the near future. Experts predict political risks in staffing shifts but see pragmatic progress toward European-led operations.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the timeline for U.S. troop reductions; the withdrawal from Romania is scheduled for October 2025, not 2024.