The United States has appointed General Tod Wolters to the post of Commander of NATO in Europe

US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan announced Friday the appointment of General Tod Wolters as NATO's Supreme Commander for Europe., a decision already approved by the Atlantic Alliance, announced the Pentagon in a statement.

General Wolters, currently commander of the US Air Force on this continent, he will replace the front of NATO's Supreme Command for Europe (Rogue) with his compatriot, General Curtis Scaparrotti.

As well, Wolters will badume command of the US Armed Forces. deployed in the region.

As the head of the US Air Force in Europe, Wolters has been responsible for air defense and NATO missiles in various fields such as Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Arctic . and the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Wolters graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1982 and, as a pilot, has accumulated more than 5,000 flying hours.

His military career mainly took place on American soilbut he also served in Germany, where Washington has the largest number of troops deployed on the Old Continent and in Afghanistan.

Wolters was promoted to the rank of general in August 2016.

The appointment comes at a time of tension between the United States. and the other members of NATO After local media reported earlier this week that President Donald Trump was studying to force countries hosting US military bases to cover 150 percent of the badociated costs.

However, Shanahan himself denied this possibility Thursday during a Senate hearing.

The announcement is given, in addition, few weeks before NATO celebrates next ministerial summit in Washington, which will take place on April 3rd and 4th.

(With information from EFE)