Trump washes Mertz: the US wants to lower the rank of the army Command in Europe and Africa

The Pentagon plans to lower the rank of the US Army Command in Europe and Africa by mid-summer. This is reported by the American portal NOTUS, citing sources.

This step should be part of the reorganization of the American military presence in Europe, the portal writes.

"The Pentagon plans to downgrade the position of the army's high command in charge of Europe and Africa by mid-summer, which raises concerns about the future of America's obligations to Europe and about what will happen to one of the army's most famous generals. The command is headed by four-star General Christopher Donahue, best known publicly as the last American serviceman photographed leaving Afghanistan. As part of the proposed reorganization, according to five sources familiar with the discussions, he should be replaced by a three-star or lieutenant general," the publication says.

It is noted that the new steps were taken after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly questioned the strategy of US President Donald Trump on Iran, and the American leader, in turn, criticized allies for unwillingness to provide assistance in the conflict.

The command, headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, oversees US Army operations throughout Europe and Africa and is a center for supporting NATO allies and coordinating assistance to Ukraine. Lowering the rank of commander to Lieutenant General would go against the position of the Allies, who see in Russia is a threat in the near future, according to former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Policy Jim Townsend.

"No decisions have been made on the future command structure. The Ministry of War will not speculate or anticipate any possible decisions... regarding senior military positions… We have no further comments on these rumors," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell commented on the situation to the portal.

In October, the Pentagon downgraded the rank of commander-in-chief of the Air Force in Europe to a three-star general.

As the chief of Staff of the US Army, General Christopher Lanev, suggested on the eve, the consequence of this decision, originally intended for the withdrawal of 5,000 soldiers from Germany, was the suspension of the planned rotation of the armored brigade in Poland, Polish radio station RMF24 reports.

"In connection with the signals about the possible reduction of American troops in In Poland, we are in contact with the head of the European Command, General (Alexus) Grinkevich. I have received assurances that these decisions are of a logistical nature and will not affect Poland's security," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said yesterday.

As reported by EADaily, the United States abandoned plans to deploy more than 4,000 military personnel in Poland. This was reported by Defense News with reference to an anonymous American military official.