Gen. Christopher Donahue, the U.S. Army’s commanding general for Army Europe and Africa (and commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command), is unexpectedly relinquishing his command. Multiple outlets report that the Army and/or Pentagon confirm he will depart after about 18 months in the role. The Army statement cited by The Guardian says Donahue will relinquish command on 2 July. Other coverage, including Defense News, Military Times, and ABC News, also frames the move as a surprise departure next week, following his time leading operations across Europe and Africa.
Several outlets also note Donahue’s earlier role during the Afghanistan withdrawal. Fox News and The Guardian say he was the last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021. The Hill adds that Donahue submitted retirement paperwork, according to an unnamed Pentagon official. The New York Post reports the move is connected to requests attributed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has pursued efforts to reduce the number of top-ranking officers, though details of the internal deliberations are not fully outlined across reports.
