Could Germany Replace America's Dominance in NATO? 

Comments by President Donald Trump’s envoy to NATO suggesting that Germany take over the American role of the alliance's European commander signal Washington's disengagement from European security affairs, a retired U.S. Marine officer has told Newsweek .

Matthew Whitaker , the U.S. ambassador to NATO , told the Berlin Security Conference earlier this month that he hoped a German would become Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), overseeing the alliance’s military activities in Europe, a role that has been held by an American since NATO’s inception.

Whitaker’s comments follow rumors the U.S. wants to step back from the role and suggest the Trump administration would like to see Germany replace the U.S. as Europe’s main security guarantor.

Butch Bracknell, a retired Marine offic