The Pentagon is preparing to hand over leadership of the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U) to a NATO ally, a transition expected to unfold over the next year.
Since its establishment in November 2022, SAG-U has been the nerve center for coordinating more than $60 billion in US defense contributions to Ukraine. Now, with the US looking to reduce its officer presence in Europe, NATO allies are stepping up to fill the gap.
What the transition actually looks like
SAG-U was set up in Wiesbaden, Germany, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion kicked into a grinding, protracted conflict. Lt. Gen. Curtis Buzzard, who currently commands the group, will step down as NATO assumes operational control.
NATO formally launched its own parallel structure, the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) command, after the July 2024 Washington Summit. That operation already involves roughly 700 personnel drawn from more than 28 nations.
