US Army Removes Top Europe Commander Charles Costanza

Lieutenant General Charles Costanza, the top U.S. Army general overseeing American forces and military operations across Europe, has been abruptly removed from his command of V Corps, the Army confirmed on August 8, 2026. The decision, made in recent days, comes nearly two months before his scheduled departure in October, with officials providing no public explanation for the early leadership change.

Costanza had commanded V Corps since April 2024. His removal was confirmed by an Army spokesperson, who stated that the matter had been referred to the appropriate authority in accordance with Army regulations. Brigadier General John B. Mountford, the corps' deputy commanding general for readiness, has stepped in as acting commanding general. Major General Thomas Feltey, who was previously confirmed by the Senate to take over the command, is still expected to assume the position in October as originally planned.

The circumstances surrounding Costanza's early removal remain unclear. The Army has not disclosed a specific reason, and officials have cited privacy and personnel policies. However, two U.S. officials stated that the removal was not political and was not initiated by...