Hegset forces the commander of US Army Europe, who was responsible for supporting Ukraine, to resign – FT
The Financial Times reports this.
According to the publication’s sources familiar with the situation, the general is set to announce his resignation on Wednesday, 24 June. He will officially end his military service in July.
Donaghy has become the latest senior US Armed Forces official to step down as a result of the personnel shake-up being carried out by US Defence Secretary Pete Hagseth.
The FT notes that Donaghy is being forced to resign just two months after Hegset sacked General Randy George from his post as Chief of Staff of the US Army, a move that sparked outrage among officers at the Pentagon.
Four-star General Donaghy has extensive combat experience. He has served in Iraq, Syria and other conflict zones. Donaghy is also known as the last US military officer to leave Afghanistan during the withdrawal of US troops in 2021, following a decision by then-President Joe Biden.
In recent years, the general has played a key role in coordinating US military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia.
The reasons for Donaghy’s removal from his post at the US Department of Defence have not been officially disclosed. However, Pete Hagset had previously openly criticised the way the Biden administration organised the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan and initiated an inquiry into the circumstances of that operation.
Journalists note that Donaghy’s resignation will trigger another wave of upheaval within the US military. He is highly respected by the military for the key combat roles he has held over the past two decades.
Several former senior US military officials told the FT that Hegset’s personnel policy has created an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear within the Armed Forces — right up to the highest levels of command.
Over the past year and a half, the Defence Secretary has dismissed a whole host of high-ranking military officers. Among them are General Charles Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations; General James Slife, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and General Timothy Ho, Director of the US National Security Agency.
It should be noted that Bill Pulte, the acting Director of National Intelligence, who was recently appointed by Donald Trump, has begun dismissing staff on a large scale in his new role.
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