In a sweeping shakeup of U.S. military leadership, President Donald Trump has nominated a new generation of generals to command America’s top military posts across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa—signaling a dramatic reorientation of foreign policy from decades of war to what insiders call a “deal-making” doctrine.

Among the most prominent appointments is Air Force General Alex Grynkewich, tapped to become NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and head of U.S. European Command (EUCOM). Grynkewich, a seasoned fighter pilot and former top Air Force commander in the Middle East, brings deep experience from his time leading counter-ISIS operations and CENTCOM air campaigns.

His nomination comes amid growing White House frustration over Europe’s lagging defense commitments. With Washington increasingly pressuring NATO allies to meet steeper defense spending goals—5% of GDP in the UK’s case—the selection of Grynkewich appears designed to tighten American oversight while also preparing for a possible downsizing of the U.S. role in NATO.

“The nomination to head European Command… comes at a moment of uncertainty for America’s military commitment to Europe,” Defense News recently noted, citing whispers of a reduced U.S. footprint on the continent.

Trump isn’t just recalibrating Europe. Navy Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, currently the deputy commander of CENTCOM, has been nominated to lead the entire U.S. Central Command. That would place him at the helm of U.S. operations across the Middle East—a hotbed of complex diplomacy and war where Trump has vowed to pull back from costly entanglements and focus on brokering peace.

Meanwhile, Dagvin Anderson, director of Joint Force Development, has been nominated to take the reins at U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). Known for his unconventional leadership style and strong support of Special Operations Forces, Anderson’s appointment reflects Trump’s intent to maintain a leaner but more agile presence in Africa—where China and Russia have been expanding their reach.

What unites all three appointees is their alignment with Trump’s evolving foreign policy vision: prioritize U.S. interests, reduce nation-building, and strike pragmatic deals over military adventurism. A senior White House source described them as “field-proven operators who understand that American blood and treasure must not be wasted to appease the military-industrial complex.”

The timing is also telling. The president has gone quiet in recent days on flare-ups in Ukraine, Gaza, and Yemen, opting instead to shuffle his chessboard behind the scenes. With Ukraine’s drone strike on Russia’s nuclear assets prompting fresh fears of escalation, and Gaza again descending into chaos, Trump appears to be preparing for a high-stakes period of diplomacy—one that demands loyalty and clarity at every command post.

General Grynkewich’s deep ties to both European and Central Command hint at a dual mission: keep NATO accountable while preparing for strategic retrenchment. Likewise, Vice Admiral Cooper’s experience across naval diplomacy and joint operations suggests a shift toward stability-building, rather than escalation, in the Middle East.

This sweeping overhaul comes just days after Trump reportedly began purging neocon-aligned hardliners from his national security team, cutting ties with several pro-Israel hawks who favored military intervention over diplomacy. It’s all part of what aides describe as “the second-term correction” after deep state sabotage marred Trump’s first four years.

With the old guard on its way out, and new commanders stepping in, Trump is making clear that America’s posture abroad is being remade from the ground up. Peace may not be here yet—but the pieces are moving into place.