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)
This is my absolute favorite pic of Marco.
The photographer is superb.
It’s fine for European countries to take control of Ukraine’s war, but not good for Nato to be the one handling it. I would add a word of caution to France, Poland, the UK and all the IC-run entities that if they decide to attack Russia directly, on Russian territory, we will not view a response by Russia as an attack on Nato, but as a response to an attack on Russia. by that country only. We will not start or join WW3 over the actions of a stupid country biting off more than it can chew. Their entire goal is to create a situation where Russia does something that forces us into a war, and we have to make clear at the outset that it will not happen. If Russia masses forces and marches into Poland, fine. But they will never do that. If Poland or France use their military to fire missiles into Russia, those countries should face reprisals in kind. I hope we have said such things privately, but I doubt we have.