Latest news with #Grynkewich
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NATO leaders propose 5% defense investment by member states
June 5 (UPI) -- NATO defense ministers are proposing a 5% annual investment in defense spending by member nations to enhance defensive capabilities during a meeting in Brussels on Thursday. The proposed defense investment plan would require member nations to invest 5% of their respective gross domestic products in defense, NATO officials announced. The change would make NATO a "stronger, fairer, more lethal alliance and ensure warfighting readiness for years to come," according to NATO. The ministers' plan describes "exactly what capabilities allies need to invest over their coming years ... to keep our deterrence and defense strong and our one billion people safe," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said. U.S. supports increased NATO member spending Many NATO members currently spend about 2% of their respective GDPs, which President Donald Trump has said is insufficient. The 5% defense investment by NATO member states is virtually assured, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told media upon arriving for Thursday's meeting. "We're here to continue the work that President Trump started, which is a commitment to 5% defense spending across this alliance, which we think will happen," Hegseth said. "There are a few countries that are not quite there yet," Hegseth added. "I won't name any names, [but] we will get them there." If approved during the upcoming NATO Summit, defense investments would require respective member nations to spend equal to 3.5% of GDP on core defense spending, plus 1.5% in annual defense and security investments, including infrastructure. The two-day NATO Summit is scheduled to start on June 24 at The Hague. Ukraine support and nuclear deterrence An ad hoc NATO-Ukraine Council also met and reaffirmed NATO's support of Ukraine and agreed that nuclear deterrence is its primary goal. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and European Union Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Minister Kaja Kallas joined the council to discuss support for Ukraine. Rutte said NATO allies have pledged nearly $23 billion in security assistance for Ukraine in 2025 and are focused on preventing the use of nuclear weapons by Russia and other nations. The final meeting of NATO ministers during the summit also affirmed the alliance's focus on nuclear deterrence. "Nuclear deterrence remains the cornerstone of alliance security," Rutte said. "We will ensure that NATO's nuclear capability remains strong and effective in order to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression." Trump nominates U.S. general for NATO commander Trump also nominated U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich to lead combined U.S. and NATO forces in Europe. If approved during the NATO Summit, Grynkewich would become NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of the U.S. European Command. Trump is scheduled to attend the NATO Summit. If approved by NATO member states, Grynkewich would replace current Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Chris Cavoli. Grynkewich is an experienced fighter pilot, and his nomination affirms that the United States would continue to emphasize defensive security for Europe. A U.S. officer has been NATO's supreme allied commander since Gen. Dwight Eisenhower first held the post in 1951.
UPI
5 days ago
- Business
- UPI
NATO leaders propose 5% defense investment by member states
June 5 (UPI) -- NATO defense ministers are proposing a 5% annual investment in defense spending by member nations to enhance defensive capabilities during a meeting in Brussels on Thursday. The proposed defense investment plan would require member nations to invest 5% of their respective gross domestic products in defense, NATO officials announced. The change would make NATO a "stronger, fairer, more lethal alliance and ensure warfighting readiness for years to come," according to NATO. The ministers' plan describes "exactly what capabilities allies need to invest over their coming years ... to keep our deterrence and defense strong and our one billion people safe," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said. U.S. supports increased NATO member spending Many NATO members currently spend about 2% of their respective GDPs, which President Donald Trump has said is insufficient. The 5% defense investment by NATO member states is virtually assured, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told media upon arriving for Thursday's meeting. "We're here to continue the work that President Trump started, which is a commitment to 5% defense spending across this alliance, which we think will happen," Hegseth said. "There are a few countries that are not quite there yet," Hegseth added. "I won't name any names, [but] we will get them there." If approved during the upcoming NATO Summit, defense investments would require respective member nations to spend equal to 3.5% of GDP on core defense spending, plus 1.5% in annual defense and security investments, including infrastructure. The two-day NATO Summit is scheduled to start on June 24 at The Hague. Ukraine support and nuclear deterrence An ad hoc NATO-Ukraine Council also met and reaffirmed NATO's support of Ukraine and agreed that nuclear deterrence is its primary goal. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and European Union Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Minister Kaja Kallas joined the council to discuss support for Ukraine. Rutte said NATO allies have pledged nearly $23 billion in security assistance for Ukraine in 2025 and are focused on preventing the use of nuclear weapons by Russia and other nations. The final meeting of NATO ministers during the summit also affirmed the alliance's focus on nuclear deterrence. "Nuclear deterrence remains the cornerstone of alliance security," Rutte said. "We will ensure that NATO's nuclear capability remains strong and effective in order to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression." Trump nominates U.S. general for NATO commander Trump also nominated U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich to lead combined U.S. and NATO forces in Europe. If approved during the NATO Summit, Grynkewich would become NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of the U.S. European Command. Trump is scheduled to attend the NATO Summit. If approved by NATO member states, Grynkewich would replace current Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Chris Cavoli. Grynkewich is an experienced fighter pilot, and his nomination affirms that the United States would continue to emphasize defensive security for Europe. A U.S. officer has been NATO's supreme allied commander since Gen. Dwight Eisenhower first held the post in 1951.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump taps senior Air Force commander for European Command boss
President Donald Trump is tapping an Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience as a senior commander in the Middle East to be the next head of U.S. European Command. Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, currently the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would also take over as the supreme allied commander Europe if his nomination is confirmed by the Senate. NATO's North Atlantic Council in a statement Thursday said it approved Grynkewich's nomination as SACEUR. Hegseth backs Air Force three-star Grynkewich for top Europe job The U.S. military's presence in Europe is under scrutiny, as the Trump administration eyes cuts in the force even as the region continues to grapple with Russia's war on Ukraine and the wider effects of the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. warships have been persistently patrolling the Mediterranean Sea to be poised to support operations in support of Israel and the broader effort to secure the Red Sea corridor, where Houthi rebels have attacked commercial and military vessels. There have been ongoing discussions in the Pentagon about slashing the number of U.S. troops across Europe. The Biden administration poured an additional 20,000 U.S. forces into the region — bringing the total to about 100,000 — to help calm escalating fears among NATO allies that they could be Russia's next target. Defense leaders have said there have been no final decisions. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both made it clear they want NATO to do more to defend its own region and that the U.S. is turning to focus more on China and America's own southern border. In his current job, Grynkewich helps to develop guidance for the combatant commands and serves as a key aide to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on military operations around the world. Most recently, Grynkewich served as commander of Air Forces in the Middle East, including air operations in support of the conflict in Israel, from 2022 to 2023. And prior to that he was director of operations for U.S. Central Command. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1993, has served as an instructor pilot and was a test pilot for the development of the F-16 and F-22 fighter jets. He has more than 2,300 flight hours.
5 days ago
- Politics
Trump taps senior Air Force commander for European Command
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump is tapping an Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience as a senior commander in the Middle East to be the next head of U.S. European Command. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, currently the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would also take over as the supreme allied commander, Europe, if his nomination is confirmed by the Senate. NATO's North Atlantic Council in a statement Thursday said it approved Grynkewich's nomination as SACEUR. The U.S. military's presence in Europe is under scrutiny, as the Trump administration eyes cuts in the force even as the region continues to grapple with Russia's war on Ukraine and the wider effects of the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. warships have been persistently patrolling the Mediterranean Sea to be poised to support operations in support of Israel and the broader effort to secure the Red Sea corridor, where Houthi rebels have attacked commercial and military vessels. There have been ongoing discussions in the Pentagon about slashing the number of U.S. troops across Europe. The Biden administration poured an additional 20,000 U.S. forces into the region — bringing the total to about 100,000 — to help calm escalating fears among NATO allies that they could be Russia's next target. Defense leaders have said there have been no final decisions. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both made it clear they want NATO to do more to defend its own region and that the U.S. is turning to focus more on China and America's own southern border. In his current job, Grynkewich helps to develop guidance for the combatant commands and serves as a key aide to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on military operations around the world. Most recently Grynkewich served as commander of Air Forces in the Middle East, including air operations in support of the conflict in Israel, from 2022 to 2023. And prior to that he was director of operations for U.S. Central Command. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1993, has served as an instructor pilot and was a test pilot for the development of the F-16 and F-22 fighter jets. He has more then 2,300 flight hours.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump, in show of NATO support, nominates official to key role with alliance
President Donald Trump has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich to lead U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, sending a strong signal the administration will continue to play a leadership role in the alliance. Some allies, amid reports theTrump administration was reconsidering the position, worried the president would choose not to prioritize Europe and decline to place an American at the helm of NATO forces. A U.S. officer has filled the role since Gen. Dwight Eisenhower took the job in 1951 and is a symbol of American commitment to the region. Trump nominated Grynkewich, the Joint Staff's director of operations, to become the Supreme Allied Commander for Europe and commander, U.S. European Command. The nomination reinforces support for European allies just two weeks before NATO leaders gather in The Hague, Netherlands for an annual summit, which Trump and other alliance leaders will attend. The current Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Chris Cavoli, told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in April that a U.S. decision to walk away from the role would prove a grave mistake. 'Our allies crave our leadership and are stronger with it, and are stronger for us,' he said. The discussions about not filling the role were part of a wider rethinking of the global U.S. footprint, according to a person familiar with the conversations, who like others, was granted anonymity to discuss internal matters. But the White House decided to keep a U.S. officer in the seat, the person said. The role is a critical one for European security. The official coordinates NATO military maneuvers and warfighting strategies across the continent, and handles nuclear deterrence. The person also commands American forces during any conflict in Europe. Lawmakers have advocated for keeping an American in the role so that a foreign leader would not oversee U.S. troops in a time of war. Grynkewich, an F-16 and F-22 pilot, has previously served as director of operations for U.S. Central Command, chief of plans for the European Command and the Pentagon's deputy director of global operations. "There was some concern about the U.S. pulling back here but this is a welcome signal that the U.S., even while shifting some priorities, still sees a secure Europe as a key priority,' said a European official. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, at NATO headquarters Thursday for a defense ministers meeting, expressed confidence that European countries would continue investing more in their own defense. The administration is pressing allies to commit 5 percent of GDP to the alliance, a number the U.S. has yet to meet. "I'm very encouraged by what we heard," Hegseth said after the meetings. "Countries in there are well exceeding 2% and we think very close, almost near consensus, on a 5 percent commitment to NATO."
