German general Breuer elected to head top NATO military body
The committee is NATO's senior military authority and its chair serves as the main military adviser to its political chief, Secretary General Mark Rutte.
TL;DR
- General Carsten Breuer, Germany's chief of defence, elected as the next head of NATO's military committee.
- The military committee is NATO's top military authority and a key advisory body.
- Breuer will take up the role next summer, succeeding Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.
- His selection occurs during a period of upheaval in the alliance, including demands for European countries to take greater responsibility for defense.
- Many European nations have increased defense spending following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and threats regarding US commitments to NATO.
- Germany has led the defense spending surge, aiming to double its military expenditure by 2030.
- Breuer, a 61-year-old army officer, previously led a crisis committee managing Germany's COVID-19 response.
- He has prior experience with NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.