The Pentagon will relinquish its leadership role in the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U), the NATO command headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, that coordinates military aid deliveries and training for Ukrainian forces, according to a report by Politico published Thursday. A European NATO member state is expected to assume control of the operation within the next year.
Army Major General Curtis Buzzard, who took command of SAG-U in mid-2024, will depart his post on Monday and be replaced by Army Lieutenant General Guillaume Beaurpere, who will oversee the wind-down of the American-led effort before transitioning to European leadership. The Pentagon framed the move as a planned “burden-shifting” exercise rather than a withdrawal of support.
“Support for Ukraine remains a top priority,” a NATO official told Politico. “SAG-U was always meant to be temporary.” A Pentagon statement echoed the sentiment, calling the transition “aimed at burden shifting within the Alliance to support Ukraine.” However, U.S. European Command will continue participating through a deputy role even after the handover.
The Security Assistance Group was established at the NATO Washington Summit in July 2024 as a centralized hub for managing the flow of Western weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to Ukraine. At its peak, the command coordinated billions of dollars in military aid from dozens of countries, managing logistics, training programs, and equipment maintenance for the Ukrainian armed forces.
The decision to step back from leadership comes amid a broader U.S. military drawdown in Europe and shifting priorities in Washington. The Trump administration has been scaling back its European military footprint while simultaneously dealing with rising tensions in the Middle East. Critics say the handover sends a worrying signal about American commitment to Ukraine at a critical moment in the war.
Ukrainian officials have expressed cautious optimism about the transition, provided the incoming European leadership maintains the same tempo of weapons deliveries. “The system works. What matters is that whoever leads it keeps the pipelines open,” said a senior Ukrainian defense ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We cannot afford a gap during the handover.”
Several European NATO members, including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, have been mentioned as potential candidates to take over SAG-U leadership. Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and has been one of Kyiv’s strongest advocates within NATO, has also been discussed as a possible successor. The final decision is expected to be made through consultations among alliance members over the coming months.
The handover coincides with growing pressure on European allies to increase their own defense spending and military support for Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has repeatedly called on member states to meet the alliance’s 2% GDP defense spending target, arguing that European nations must be prepared to take greater responsibility for regional security. The SAG-U transition will serve as an early test of whether Europe is ready to shoulder that burden.
Sources: Politico, Ukrainska Pravda, Interfax-Ukraine
Author: Ukraine Desk
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