Trump changes top Middle East general for strong Iran hawk
The U.S. has underlined the priority of maritime operations and integrated joint forces in the Middle East with the nomination of a naval officer as the region's top commander ahead of a potential confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program and other threats.
President Donald Trump has nominated Vice Admiral Brad Cooper , currently the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), to be appointed to the rank of admiral and serve as its new commander. He has been a strong critic of Iran and supportive of Israel in the past.
Only one Navy officer has previously commanded CENTCOM— Admiral William Fallon in 2007—while the role has traditionally been held by Army and Marine generals.
Why It Matters
Commanding U.S. operations in the Middle East is one of the military's critical roles amid ongoing tensions with Iran and with a fragile truce with the Yemeni Houthis , after the Iranian-backed group multiply targeted U.S. aircraft carriers in response to Trump's airstrike campaign launched in March.
Trump has threatened to use military force against Iran if diplomacy fails to achieve a deal to curb its nuclear program.
CENTCOM is further engaged in regional security efforts related to Gaza since the war that erupted following Hamas ' 2023 October attack on Israel. Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq remain key theaters for CENTCOM's anti-ISIS operations.
What To Know
If confirmed, Adm. Cooper will succeed commander General Michael Kurilla , who is due to retire this summer. Kurilla, with an army background, has also been strongly critical of Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has endorsed Cooper over Army General James Mingus , the presumed frontrunner, shifting away from Biden administration preferences, The Washington Post reported in April.
A fierce critic of Iran's activities in the Middle East, Cooper has repeatedly identified it as a threats to regional security, navigation, and stability. As commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, he played a central role in Operation Prosperity Guardian , the U.S.-led multinational mission safeguarding Red Sea shipping lanes from Houthi missile and drone attacks from 2023.
In 2024, he orchestrated the U.S. military 's support for humanitarian aid to Gaza, through the establishment of a maritime corridor that boosted aid delivery without deploying troops on the ground, although it faced security challenges and quickly ended.
Cooper had visited Israel in January to discuss U.S.-Israeli defense cooperation, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Cooper, a 1989 Naval Academy graduate, holds a master's in strategic Intelligence, studied international relations at Harvard and Tufts, and is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College. A recipient of the Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Award, he has led Navy ships and crews across key regions, served on the ground in Afghanistan, commanded U.S. naval forces in the Middle East for nearly three years, and led major Navy groups in the Atlantic, Japan, and Korea, including the USS Russell and USS Gettysburg .
What People Are Saying
Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said on CBS' 60 Minutes in 2024: "For a decade, the Iranians have been supplying the Houthis. They've been resupplying them. They're resupplying them as we sit here right now, at sea. We know this is happening. They're advising them, and they're providing target information. This is crystal clear."
Pentagon's press release on Wednesday: "Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced today that the President has made the following nominations: Navy Vice Adm. Charles B. Cooper II for appointment to the grade of admiral, with assignment as commander, U.S. Central Command."
What Happens Next
His appointment is pending approval by the Senate Armed Services Committee.
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