Pentagon transfers leadership of Ukraine assistance mission in Germany to another state – Politico

The Pentagon is stepping down from leading the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U), based in Germany, and will hand it over to another NATO member state.

Source: Politico; European Pravda

Details: According to a US official and three people familiar with the plan, command of SAG-U – which has played a central role in equipping and training Ukrainian troops since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion – will ultimately be taken over by another NATO member. This move means the US will no longer help shape what Ukraine's future armed forces will look like.

"A European or Canadian officer taking command … would be yet another example of allies taking on greater responsibility," said a NATO official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the as-yet-unannounced plan.

According to the sources, the handover of leadership will take up to a year, but they insist this will not disrupt work with Ukraine. US European Command will remain involved through an American deputy.

"SAG-U was always meant to be temporary," the Pentagon said. "This effort is aimed at burden shifting within the Alliance to support Ukraine and to align US resources in accordance with the National Defense Strategy."

The security assistance group, based in Germany's Wiesbaden, coordinates the supply of military equipment to Ukraine while also overseeing training and logistical support for Ukrainian forces.

Lieutenant General Curtis Buzzard, who took charge of SAG-U in mid-2024, will step down on 3 July and hand over authority to Lieutenant General Guillaume Beaurpere, who will oversee the drawdown of the American effort.

This change fits an increasingly familiar pattern of the US handing over NATO commands to European countries. In February, the Trump administration announced it will withdraw part of its senior military leadership from the continent and hand the UK control of NATO's Joint Force Command in Norfolk, Virginia.

Italy will take over Joint Force Command Naples. Germany and Poland will take control of Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands.

Background:

• On 28 July, the US Department of Defense officially launched a six-month review of its military presence in Europe, which could pave the way for troop reductions on the continent.
• It was reported earlier that the US wants to create "NATO 3.0", which would not be "based on dependency" for Europe on America.

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