New NATO commander takes helm as alliance lauds outgoing chief for modernizing defense
U.S. Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command as the 21st Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) on July 4 during a ceremony at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte presided over the handover, commending outgoing U.S. Army General Christopher G. Cavoli for his contributions to modernizing NATO’s collective defense and bolstering support for Ukraine.
Rutte highlighted Cavoli’s efforts to strengthen NATO’s presence in the Baltic Sea in response to threats to critical undersea infrastructure and credited him with conceiving and establishing NATO’s new command in Germany to enhance assistance to Ukraine. He also noted Cavoli’s role in refocusing the Alliance on collective defense following the 2022 Madrid Summit, where NATO adopted a new Strategic Concept in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Cavoli played a central role in developing and securing approval for NATO’s regional defense plans at the 2023 Vilnius Summit—a significant overhaul of the Alliance’s military posture since the Cold War.
His tenure also included the integration of Finland and Sweden into NATO’s military structures, expanding the Alliance’s strategic reach. In 2024, Cavoli oversaw “Steadfast Defender,” NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War, involving approximately 90,000 troops practicing large-scale reinforcement across the eastern flank and validating a new high-readiness force model.
Rutte specifically acknowledged Cavoli’s leadership in rapidly reinforcing NATO’s Baltic Sea presence during threats to underwater infrastructure and for establishing the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), which continues to support Ukraine.
The secretary general welcomed General Grynkewich, noting that, as a former fighter pilot, he brings “a deep understanding of the threats we face from the skies, and across other domains.” Rutte added that Grynkewich’s recent role as Director of Operations of the Joint Staff provides him with broad experience in advancing military and security priorities amid global challenges.
Allied Command Operations—responsible for planning and executing all NATO operations—now falls under General Grynkewich’s command, a position first held by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova