Pentagon to cede command of NATO unit coordinating Ukraine aid in Germany

The Pentagon is relinquishing leadership of the NATO headquarters in Germany that has been coordinating military assistance to Ukraine. According to Politico, citing a U.S. official and three sources familiar with the plan, command of the Security Assistance Group for Ukraine (SAG-U) will eventually be transferred to another NATO member state.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, SAG-U has played a crucial role in supplying weapons to Ukrainian forces and training soldiers. This transition signifies that the United States will no longer be directly involved in shaping the future structure of Ukraine's armed forces. Sources indicate that the transfer of command could take up to a year, but it is emphasized that this will not affect the continuity of cooperation with Ukraine. While NATO will lead the program, the U.S. European Command will continue its involvement through an American deputy.

"Support for Ukraine remains one of the highest priorities," a NATO spokesperson stated. The SAG-U, based in Wiesbaden, Germany, is responsible for coordinating the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine, overseeing training for its armed forces, and providing logistical support.

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Support for Ukraine remains one of the highest priorities.

The Pentagon stated that SAG-U was intended as a temporary structure from its inception. "This move aims to redistribute the burden of supporting Ukraine within the Alliance and align U.S. resource allocation with the National Defense Strategy," the statement read. This decision aligns with the practice of transferring NATO command functions to allies in Europe.

In February, the Trump administration announced plans to withdraw some of its top military commands from Europe, transferring control of the NATO Joint Force Command in Norfolk, Virginia, to the United Kingdom. Italy will assume command of the Joint Force Command in Naples, while Germany and Poland will take over the NATO Joint Force Command in Brunssum, Netherlands. U.S. Army Lieutenant General Curtis Buzzard, who has led SAG-U since 2024, will hand over his duties to Lieutenant General Guillaume Borpers, marking the conclusion of the U.S. mission in this capacity. The structure was established during the NATO summit in Washington in July 2024, with the understanding that command would eventually pass to Europe.

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This move aims to redistribute the burden of supporting Ukraine within the Alliance and align U.S. resource allocation with the National Defense Strategy.