General Christopher Donahue, the US Army commander for Europe and Africa, is unexpectedly stepping down after just 18 months in the post, the Army confirmed. The general, who was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021, will relinquish command on 2 July. His deputy, Major General Christopher Norrie, will assume his duties in the interim.
A West Point graduate and career special operations commander, Donahue led Delta Force units in Iraq and Afghanistan before commanding the 82nd Airborne Division. He oversaw security at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, and was photographed leaving the country on the final C-17 cargo plane on 30 August 2021.
Donahue's departure comes as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to thin the ranks of top military brass under the mantra 'less generals, more GIs'. Donahue is among nearly two dozen senior leaders to retire or leave their posts early. Hegseth and President Donald Trump have repeatedly criticised the Afghanistan withdrawal, ordering a new Pentagon review despite multiple earlier investigations.
According to an Army official, Donahue's exit may be linked to discussions about downgrading US Army Europe and Africa from a four-star to a three-star command. This follows Hegseth's criticism of European allies and his announcement of a six-month review of American forces in Europe, telling Nato allies that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defence.
Despite the political controversy, Donahue's leadership during the evacuation earned bipartisan praise, and he was widely seen within the Army as a potential candidate to lead the service or become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Pentagon declined to comment on his departure, which was first reported by The Atlantic.
