NATO appoints new SACEUR

The past May 12th, NATO's Defence Planning Committee has agreed to the requests from President Barack H. Obama to release General Bantz J. Craddock (US Army) from his responsibilities as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and to appoint Admiral James G. Stavridis, United States Navy to succeed General Craddock as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe.

Admiral Stavridis is currently serving as Commander, United States Southern Command. In addition to the NATO position, he has also been nominated by President Obama to be the Commander, United States European Command.

SACEUR is responsible for the overall command of NATO military operations and conducts the necessary military planning for operations, including the identification of forces required for the mission and requesting these forces from NATO countries, as authorised by the North Atlantic Council and as directed by NATO's Military Committee. In the case of an aggression against a NATO member state, SACEUR, as Supreme Commander, is responsible for executing all military measures within his capability and authority to preserve or restore the security of Alliance territory.
The SACEUR is appointed by the US President, confirmed by the US Senate, and approved by the North Atlantic Council of NATO. There is no assigned term for the SACEUR and it has ranged from one to eight years.