No vacancy at top of Nato, as Healey denies US is stepping away from alliance

The Defence Secretary says the US is not "stepping away" from Nato and there is "no vacancy" at the top of the alliance. 

John Healey was responding to claims that America might stop providing a general to be Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), the alliance's top military commander. 

He was asked whether the role might go to the UK and if the current Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, might be in line to take up the job. 

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"There has always been an American SACEUR, that is what I want to continue to see," Mr Healey said.

"The Americans have been the cornerstone of Nato and, in my discussions with Secretary Hegseth, he's made very clear that at one and the same time they are challenging, rightly, European nations like the UK to step up and do more, but America is not stepping away.

"For me, there is no vacancy. There's no question that it's not and should not be, an American SACEUR."

The current SACEUR is General Christopher G Cavoli, who has held the role since 2022.

The first US SACEUR was General Dwight D Eisenhower, who was appointed in December 1950.