US Army general in Europe suddenly removed from command

The U.S. Army abruptly removed the three-star general leading their forces in Europe, the service confirmed Monday.

Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, who was leading V Corps, was removed from command. The Army did not provide the date of his removal or disclose a reason for his departure but confirmed in a statement that “the matter has been referred to the appropriate authority in accordance with Army regulations.”

Brig. Gen. John B. Mountford, the deputy commanding general of readiness for V Corps, is serving as the acting commanding general .

According to the Army last week, Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Feltey, who was selected for promotion to lieutenant general, is set to assume command of V Corps at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Before assuming command of V Corps in April 2024, Costanza served as the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe-Africa. He also commanded the 3rd Infantry Division.

V Corps oversees ground forces in Europe, including those along NATO’s eastern flank. The Corps works with allied forces to integrate defense, counter-drone systems and long-range fires in the region . Costanza was the Corps’ second commanding general since its reactivation in October 2020.

In 1991, he commissioned as an armor officer from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The removal was not political and had nothing to do with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, an Army official told Military Times.

Costanza’s removal comes amid mass leadership shakeups at the Pentagon. Since entering the position, Hegseth has removed or replaced at least a dozen senior leaders.

In early July, U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Donahue, who previously led the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division, unexpectedly relinquished command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The Army did not provide a reason for his departure.

Eve Sampson is a reporter and former Army officer. She has covered conflict across the world, writing for The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Associated Press.

美国陆军周一证实，已突然撤换了指挥其驻欧洲部队的三星将军。

指挥第五军的查尔斯·科斯坦扎中将被解除指挥权。陆军没有提供他被解除职务的日期或透露其离职原因，但在一份声明中确认“此事已根据陆军条例移交相关部门处理”。

第五军战备副司令约翰·B·芒特福德准将担任代理司令。

据陆军上周消息，被选拔晋升为中将的托马斯·M·费尔蒂少将即将接管位于肯塔基州诺克斯堡的第五军的指挥权。

在2024年4月接任第五军军长之前，科斯坦扎曾担任美国陆军欧洲-非洲司令部副司令，并指挥过第三步兵师。

第五军负责欧洲地面部队，包括北约东翼的部队。该军与盟军合作，整合该地区的防御、反无人机系统和远程火力。科斯坦扎是该军自2020年10月重建以来的第二任司令。

1991年，他从西点军校毕业，成为一名装甲兵军官。

一位陆军官员告诉《军事时报》，此次撤职并非出于政治原因，也与国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯无关。

科斯坦扎的离职正值五角大楼领导层大规模改组之际。自赫格塞斯上任以来，他已经撤换了至少十几位高级领导人。

7月初，曾任第十八空降军和第八十二空降师司令的美国陆军上将克里斯托弗·多纳休出人意料地辞去了美国陆军欧洲和非洲司令部的职务。陆军方面并未说明其离职原因。

伊芙·桑普森是一名记者，也是一名前陆军军官。她曾报道过世界各地的冲突，为《纽约时报》、《华盛顿邮报》和美联社撰稿。