General Inspector Carsten Breuer has been elected as the new head of the NATO Military Committee by the chiefs of NATO member states in Copenhagen on Saturday. Breuer is scheduled to take on this role in the summer of 2027. However, traditional protocol dictates that army chiefs typically step down from their national duties well in advance of taking office in the Alliance to prepare for the role at NATO.
Despite the election, both defense politicians and the German Armed Forces association are calling on Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius (SPD) to quickly appoint a successor. Thomas Röwekamp (CDU), Chairman of the Defence Committee, told Spiegel that the Minister of Defence must act quickly to settle the succession for the General Inspector position, stating, “Given the current security situation, we cannot afford a drawn-out process at the top of the Bundeswehr.”
Agnieszka Brugger, Deputy Group Leader of the Greens, also emphasized the need for a rapid personnel decision. She noted, “The times are so serious that the Chancellor and the Minister of Defence should not hesitate unnecessarily in nominating a new General Inspector.” The Green politician added that historically, few General Inspectors would face challenges as significant as those posed by Breuer’s successor.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed following the election that Pistorius plans for Breuer to remain in his current role until shortly before his transition to NATO. During this period, Breuer’s focus will remain entirely on his responsibilities as General Inspector.
André Wüstner, head of the Bundeswehr association, similarly urged Pistorius to act swiftly. Wüstner told Spiegel, “A swift decision regarding the succession is of great importance for the Bundeswehr now.” He stressed that the earlier the onboarding and handover to the successor can occur, the better.
