The Security Assistance Group (SAG) is a unit of NATO command operated in Germany that specifically focuses on the military training and development in support of Ukraine. The U.S. is transitioning out of SAG leadership and handing the responsibility to Europe or Canada.
EUROPE – Another NATO member will eventually take over running the Security Assistance Group, according to a U.S official and three people familiar with the plan, which has played a central role in equipping and training Ukrainian troops since the full-scale Russian invasion began. But the removal of U.S. leadership from a pivotal program on the continent reinforces the extent to which America is distancing itself from European partners.
The move will mean the U.S. no longer helps shape what Ukraine’s future military will look like. It follows a swath of changes the Trump administration has made to the decades-old alliance. The Pentagon has reduced the number of American officers running commands in Europe and canceled some rotations. Officials are reassessing troops stationed on the continent and warning countries they won’t receive assistance unless their defense spending increases.
“A European or Canadian officer taking command … would be yet another example of allies taking on greater responsibility,” said a NATO official, who like others, was granted anonymity to discuss the unannounced plan.
The transition of leadership will take up to a year, the people said, but insisted it won’t interrupt the work done with Ukraine. While NATO will lead the program, the U.S. European Command will stay involved through an American deputy. (read more)
NATO advocates are framing the transition as an example of the USA abdicating military leadership to European counterparts who support Ukraine. However, the role of the USA in the Strategic Assistance Group was always supposed to be temporary, with Europe ultimately taking responsibility.
[…] Still, some in Kyiv are worried that putting the command within NATO’s complex bureaucracy might slow down getting assistance to the frontlines, the official said. “No one can replace American satellite reconnaissance, target designation and logistics capabilities of U.S. heavy transport aircraft.”
But the Trump administration is pressing ahead.
Speaking to NATO defense ministers in Brussels last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. allies “must step up.”
Trump “has been very clear on this point for many years,” Hegseth continued, “and over two administrations, and for too long, NATO has been a paper tiger and a one-way street. No more.” (more)
Daddy took the T-Bird away. Long overdue.
Finally!
I’m sure President Putin is shaking in his boots LOL…
God bless President Trump! Let Europe and the Snow Mexicans take charge of this mess!!
Great! Faster, please!!
Moving forward, as always. Thank you Mr. President.
Europe wants their WWReddit, they can fund and direct their WWReddit on their own.
Daddy (US) to junior (EU) it’s time to get a job Son go out and do your own fighting and you know, man. 🤣
End the ultimately anti-Christian persecution of post Communist Russia.
Reject the absurd and vicious programming you were raised upon and defend Humanity.
The Slavic people and specifically the Rus are noble indeed and worthy of both our friendship and respect.
Cut the umbilical cord.
Here you go EU, it’s your mess, you clean it up.
My concern is, leaving junior to mind the store, could very well result in serious escalation of the conflict.
Thus dragging U.S. Forces back, into real combat.
Does this mean, “Ann Margaret is not coming”
Our pretend allies can’t defend their own countries. Good luck defending Ukraine.
No more.” (more)
Good.
Yes!!!!!
I’m thinking that with the undeclared war in Iran, and things in that region are continuing to heat, up that those Patriot missile systems and the technology to build the missiles absolutely should NOT be licensed to Ukraine as a matter of “National Security”, PERIOD. Also, those Patriot missiles must be held in reserve and not made available to Ukraine to build or for sale for protecting those countries in the middle east and our military personnel and bases in the middle east region.
Because Ukraine is not a member of NATO and the countries in Europe are the ones so worried about Russia, as they should be, America is not obligated to support Ukraine under the NATO treaty. Let those European countries take up the fight themselves since they have failed to help America in the mid east, and in fact many refused to allow American forces to over fly nor refuel at their bases in that region!
“The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connexion as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop.
Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.”………………………….”Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?” George Washington’s Farewell Address
The more Z talks, the less help he gets. Good. Que the usual suspects hand wringing in 5, 4, 3, 2………………
Perhaps France & Spain should be next in line to lead the SAG that way the Ukrainians will know the most proper way to surrender.
Sooner the better.
So, it seems Russia’s complaint about the expansion of NATO has some validity to it.