US defence secretary recommends Lt. Gen. Grynkewich to lead forces in Europe

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has recommended Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the Joint Staff’s director for operations, to President Donald Trump for the role of leading US forces in Europe.

The nomination is yet to be finalised and comes at a time of uncertainty about America’s military role in Europe, including possible reductions to US forces on the continent and a diminished NATO involvement, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The nomination must undergo a review by the White House before it is sent to the Senate for confirmation, sources familiar with the process said. Inside the Pentagon, Grynkewich is widely regarded as a rising star in the military. A former F-16 and F-22 pilot, Grynkewich has an extensive background in US Central Command, where he played a key role in the Middle East.

In April 2024, he took on his current position on the Joint Staff, helping guide US operations amid the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as China’s growing military presence. Under the Trump administration, the Department of Defence has taken a firmer stance on European defence, advocating for NATO members to increase their defence spending. Like Trump, Hegseth has called for NATO members to raise military budgets to 5 per cent of their GDPs, up from the current 2 per cent. 

Grynkewich’s appointment would also place him in line to assume the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe, a high-ranking NATO position historically held by an American, dating back to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Currently, there are 100,000 US troops in Europe, following an additional deployment of 20,000 after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Pentagon is reviewing its global force distribution, with some European officials anticipating troop withdrawals. 

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed no final decisions have been made regarding these changes. As the US military in Europe faces significant transitions, General Christopher Cavoli, the current head of European Command, is expected to retire in July, along with other senior military leaders. Meanwhile, Hegseth also recommended Vice Adm. Brad Cooper to lead US forces in the Middle East, bypassing other contenders.

By Naila Huseynova