NATO Picks New Head of Military Committee — German General Who Warns of Threat from Russia

Senior military representatives from NATO member states meeting in Copenhagen on Saturday elected a new chairman of the alliance's Military Committee — German General Carsten Breuer. The announcement was made by the outgoing chairman, Italian General Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, who congratulated his successor.

According to Dragone, Breuer's "operational judgment, deep knowledge of the alliance, and experience leading the German armed forces" will be a valuable asset to NATO. The 61-year-old general currently serves as Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, the highest military post in Germany's armed forces.

Competition with a Canadian General

According to the Brussels-based outlet Euractiv, Canadian General Jennie Carignan was also in contention for the post alongside Breuer. However, the military representatives of the alliance's member states ultimately chose the German candidate.

The chairman of the Military Committee is NATO's highest-ranking military official. He serves as the chief military adviser to the alliance's political leader — the Secretary General, currently Mark Rutte — and acts as the link between the organization's political and military leadership.

A Turbulent Period for the Alliance

As Reuters notes, Breuer is taking on the role at a difficult time for NATO: US President Donald Trump has been pressing for European nations to shoulder the primary responsibility for the continent's defense after decades of American leadership.

Carsten Breuer joined the German army back in 1984, during the Cold War, starting his service in an air defense unit. In 2014, he took part in NATO's international mission in Kabul, Afghanistan. Later, according to Reuters, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appointed him head of the crisis committee that coordinated Germany's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: novinky.cz