Pentagon to relinquish leadership role in NATO support for Ukraine - Politico
Photo: Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth (Getty Images)
The Pentagon is relinquishing leadership of the NATO command in Germany, which is headed by the US and coordinates military aid to Ukraine. This could lead to problems in intelligence and beyond, according to Politico.
According to a US official and three people familiar with the plan, the leadership of the Security Assistance Group will eventually be taken over by another NATO member. The leadership transition will take up to a year, but the interlocutors clarified that it will not interrupt work with Ukraine.
"While NATO will lead the program, the U.S. European Command will stay involved through an American deputy," writes Politico.
It is known that this US-led group has played a central role in equipping and training the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. But now, given the withdrawal, the US will no longer participate in shaping the future structure of the Ukrainian army.
NATO allies have generally supported the transfer of command from the US, and some have noted that expanding Europe's role is appropriate.
"For us, this step carries more advantages than disadvantages. This reduces the risks for us that could arise from political turbulence in the United States and facilitates military logistics in the interests of Ukraine," said a Ukrainian official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
At the same time, some in Kyiv are concerned that incorporating the command into NATO's complex bureaucratic structure could slow down the delivery of aid to the front lines.
"No one can replace American satellite reconnaissance, target designation and logistics capabilities of U.S. heavy transport aircraft," a Ukrainian official stated.
Politico added in its article that the Security Assistance Group in Wiesbaden (Germany) plays a unique role. It coordinates the movement of military equipment into Ukraine, as well as training and logistical support for the Ukrainian armed forces.
But the US withdrawal from its leadership role aligns with an increasingly widespread trend of Washington transferring command of NATO to European countries.
US support for Ukraine is weakening
A few days ago, the media reported that the Trump administration informed Congress that it would not use all of the $400 million allocated by Congress for aid to Ukraine by the end of 2026. Washington now intends to stretch this payment until the autumn of 2029.
Recently, US President Donald Trump announced that Ukraine might be granted a license to produce interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems. However, just a day earlier, he had already expressed doubts about such a possibility, and later stated that it might not happen at all.
