Media: US colonel to take senior role inside German army command As Berlin–Washington ties deteriorate

Germany is set to embed a senior US officer inside its army command structure in an unusually close move reflecting deepening military cooperation, even as political relations between Berlin and Washington deteriorate. 

Starting in October, an American colonel will take up the post of deputy head of the Operations Division at the German Army Command, where missions are planned and operational decisions prepared, according to the German army and the Pentagon, Politico reports.

The position places a US officer at the heart of the Bundeswehr land forces command structure. A German army spokesperson said the aim is “to further deepen German-American cooperation and optimise joint operational capability within NATO.”

While exchange postings with allied officers are longstanding, officials acknowledged the depth of integration is unusual.

Lt. Gen. Christian Freuding, head of the German Army, said: “The integration of a senior American officer into our Operations Division is also an expression of our mutual, deep trust.”

The arrangement is part of a broader programme of highly selective officer exchanges agreed “on a highly selective basis,” U.S. Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Vonnie Wright told Politico.

The officer will work within the German army headquarters to strengthen interoperability “in support of NATO and bilateral requirements.”

The move comes as relations between Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump have worsened publicly in recent days, with disagreements over Iran policy and wider strategic direction.

Trump has also continued to question the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, raising concerns in European capitals about the long-term US security commitment. The United States Department of Defence has also not released a long-anticipated global troop posture review.

A 2026 US National Defence Strategy adds to the uncertainty, stating allies are expected to “take the lead against threats that are less severe for us but more so for them, with critical but more limited support from the United States.”

German defence officials say the Bundeswehr must increasingly assume capabilities previously reliant on US support. Defence analyst Nico Lange said: “Especially at this stage, an integrated U.S. staff officer is of great value," Lange said.

He added: “It is better to manage this transition together in a spirit of partnership,” he said.

Despite tensions at the political level, military cooperation continues to deepen. Germany already operates closely integrated structures with several NATO allies, particularly the Netherlands, whose forces are in parts embedded within German divisions — a model increasingly viewed as a template for European defence within NATO.

By Aghakazim Guliyev