Newly-appointed NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti mentioned Russia among the challenges NATO faces.

BRUSSELS (Belgium) — U.S. Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, has formally taken charge of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) in Stuttgart, Germany on Tuesday, and also as NATO’s new supreme allied commander at a separate ceremony in Belgium on Wednesday.

“General Scaparrotti’s success has come from his ability to build bridges between allies and partners, between diverse elements within our joint force,” said Defense Secretary Ash Carter. He hailed Scaparrotti as a proven warrior-diplomat and “a soldiers’ general.”

Gen. Scaparrotti, 60, a West Point graduate and the former commander of U.S. and U.N. forces in Korea, succeeds U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, succeeds U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, who oversaw sweeping changes at NATO designed to deal with a resurgent Russia and the threat of armed Islamic extremism in the Middle East and Africa.

Welcoming the new Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), the Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted that it is significant for NATO to enhance presence in the eastern part, project stability beyond borders and improve our resilience to hybrid warfare and strengthening Allies cyber defences. “There is a great deal to do. I am delighted that we have a man like General Scaparrotti to help take us forward.” General Scaparrotti will be responsible for the overall command of all NATO missions and operations, including in the Balkans, over the Baltic, in the Mediterranean and off the Horn of Africa.

The Commander of the United States military EUCOM simultaneously serves as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) within NATO. The command job, known in NATO jargon as the SACEUR, always goes to an American general or admiral, and was first filled by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1951.

Today, there are fewer than 65,000 U.S. military personnel permanently stationed in Europe, down from roughly 300,000 during the Cold War.

Scaparrotti’s desire for more troops in Europe echoes the position of NATO’s outgoing military commander, U.S. General Philip Breedlove.

Scaparrotti’s experience in Korea and Afghanistan prepared him well for the new role

Having served in Korea and Afghanistan, NATO’s new military chief Curtis Scaparrotti is well prepared for the role.

Scaparrotti’s experience in Afghanistan is important for his new position as he headed the joint command of ISAF, the NATO-led international mission tasked with stabilizing the country, from 2011 to 2012. “So he is not a newcomer to the NATO environment,” said Swan.

Balancing NATO’s renewed focus on Russia with the ability to operate outside the alliance’s territory to counter terrorist threats or provide assistance in the refugee crisis will be the most important task for Scaparrotti, according to Carlo Masala, professor for international politics at Germany’s Armed Forces University in Munich.

NATO Considers ‘Resurgent Russia’ a challenge

Newly-appointed NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti on Wednesday mentioned Russia among the challenges NATO faces.

“We face a resurgent Russia and its aggressive behavior that challenges international norms,” U.S. Army General Curtis Scaparrotti said earlier this week upon taking command of U.S. forces in Europe. He added that the Atlantic alliance’s forces must be “ready to fight should deterrence fail.”

His appointment comes at a time when the alliance regards Moscow as a threat to stability over its actions in Ukraine and has largely given up on military or civilian cooperation with Russia.