Germany’s highest-ranking soldier, Carsten Breuer, has been unanimously elected as the next Chair of the NATO Military Committee, securing one of the alliance’s most influential military positions. The chiefs of defense of NATO member states voted on Saturday to appoint Breuer as the successor to Italy’s Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, according to Germany’s Ministry of Defense. The German government had nominated Breuer for the role in February.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius welcomed the appointment, calling it “excellent news” for NATO. He praised Breuer’s strategic leadership as Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, saying he played a key role in reshaping Germany’s armed forces and would now bring his experience to an alliance facing major historic challenges.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also congratulated Breuer, describing the election as a sign of Germany’s willingness to take responsibility within NATO during a demanding period for the alliance. He thanked NATO partners for their confidence in Germany.
Breuer, 61, will take up his new position in the middle of next year. As Chair of the NATO Military Committee, he will lead the alliance’s highest military body and serve as the principal military adviser to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, operating at the critical intersection of military strategy and political decision-making.
The appointment places a German officer at the center of NATO’s military leadership at a time when the alliance is strengthening its deterrence and defense posture amid growing security challenges across Europe.
Until then, Breuer will remain Germany’s Inspector General and the country’s highest-ranking military officer. His upcoming departure has sparked calls from defense politicians and military representatives for a swift appointment of a successor.
CDU defense expert Thomas Röwekamp urged the government to act quickly, warning that Germany could not afford uncertainty at the top of the Bundeswehr given the current security environment. Similar concerns were raised by Green Party deputy parliamentary leader Agnieszka Brugger, who said both Pistorius and Merz should move without delay to fill the position.
André Wüstner, head of the German Armed Forces Association, also stressed the importance of a rapid transition. He said an early handover to Breuer’s successor would help ensure continuity at a time when the Bundeswehr faces significant challenges.
Breuer became Inspector General in 2023, just over a year after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In that role, he has overseen the military implementation of Germany’s landmark defense policy shift, known as the “Zeitenwende.”
In February 2024, he stated that the Bundeswehr should be ready for war within five years and repeatedly warned that Russia could be capable of attacking NATO territory from 2029 onward. His leadership has been closely associated with efforts to modernize Germany’s armed forces and improve military readiness.
Breuer’s election marks a significant milestone for both Germany and NATO. His move from leading the Bundeswehr to chairing NATO’s highest military body highlights Germany’s growing influence within the alliance and underscores the importance NATO members place on strengthening collective defense.
As NATO faces a rapidly evolving security landscape, Breuer is expected to play a central role in coordinating military strategy and advising alliance leaders on future defense priorities.
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