Germany’s top general to lead NATO’s highest military authority
Carsten Breuer — widely seen as the front-runner — beat out Canada's Jennie Carignan for the role of NATO military committee chair.
Germany's Chief of Defense, Carsten Breuer, will assume leadership of NATO's highest military authority, following a majority vote in favor of his candidacy. Breuer, who has been in charge of Germany's armed forces since 2023, secured support from at least 17 out of NATO's 32 chiefs of defense during the secret ballot held in Copenhagen.
Italy's current chair, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, expressed his congratulations to Breuer, acknowledging his operational expertise, familiarity with the Alliance, and leadership of the German Armed Forces. Breuer will replace Dragone in July and will serve a three-year term. The other votes were kept confidential to prevent potential discord and division over the outcome.
Breuer edged out Canada's Chief of Defense, Jennie Carignan, for the position, largely due to Germany's status as Europe's leading defense spender and implicit backing from the United States. Breuer emphasized Germany's role in defense spending as European allies face pressure to bolster their own defense capabilities. Carignan, on the other hand, focused on revitalizing the role of the military committee and promoting enduring transatlantic unity within NATO.
The outcome highlights Germany's increasing influence in the alliance, as it assumes greater senior military roles and operational responsibilities for protecting frontline states.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
