Lieutenant General Eldon Millar CVO MBE has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s next Military Representative to NATO and the European Union.

He will take up the role on 20 January 2026, replacing Lieutenant General Sir Ian Cave KCB, who is retiring after nearly 40 years of service in the British Army.

The appointment was confirmed by the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, who highlighted Lieutenant General Millar’s recent senior NATO roles. Millar most recently served as Deputy Commander of NATO’s Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy and the NATO Allied Reaction Force, where he was involved in NATO force readiness and operational command structures.

Lieutenant General Millar began his military career in the Royal Engineers, specialising in Explosive Ordnance Disposal. His service includes operational deployments with NATO in the Balkans and the Middle East, as well as joint and staff roles within the Ministry of Defence.

Announcing the appointment, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said: “I am delighted to congratulate Lieutenant General Eldon Millar on his appointment. As Deputy Commander of NATO’s Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy and the Allied Reaction Force, his unwavering leadership has been central to NATO’s very high readiness capabilities.”

He added: “As Military Representative to NATO and the European Union, he will play a critical role in maintaining security in the Euro-Atlantic.” Sir Richard also paid tribute to Lieutenant General Sir Ian Cave, thanking him for his service during what he described as a defining period for the Alliance.

Commenting on his appointment, Lieutenant General Millar said: “It is my privilege to represent the UK at the epicentre of Euro-Atlantic security.” He added that NATO was “working relentlessly to guard the security of our one billion citizens and to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion.” He continued: “I am ready to build on the United Kingdom’s longstanding commitment to the Alliance. I look forward to working closely with our Allies to strengthen our Alliance and support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.”

Outgoing Military Representative Lieutenant General Sir Ian Cave said: “At such a critical juncture for the Alliance and global security, it has been an honour to represent the UK as the Military Representative to NATO.” He added that the appointment of Lieutenant General Millar “signifies the measure of the UK’s NATO First approach.”

UK Permanent Representative to NATO, Ambassador Angus Lapsley, also welcomed the appointment, saying: “Lieutenant General Millar’s appointment as Military Representative is great news for UK leadership in NATO.” He added that he looked forward to welcoming him to the UK’s joint delegation in Brussels.

George Allison
George Allison
George Allison is the founder and editor of the UK Defence Journal. He holds a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and specialises in naval and cyber security topics. George has appeared on national radio and television to provide commentary on defence and security issues. Twitter: @geoallison
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33 COMMENTS

    • He’ll look SACEUR in the eye, point at his ribbons, and say:
      “Listen in fella 🫱🏼(Brecon Point), I’ve almost got more medals than the Army has guns!”

  5. I do wonder in a decade if the liaison to the EU will not be the most important job.. I can see a world in which the EU is the third pole ( china, US and EU).. and the new nato is formed around the EU as the present one is formed around the US.

    • I heard the US Is going to be re-named…

      “Trumpton”.

      With the individual states being called “Trumpets”.
      Greenland will be Orangeland and Iran will be a “Beautifull Golf Coarse”
      South America will be “South Trumpton” and UK will still be dithering.

      • I am worried that we may end up the 55th state when if we had acted quickly we could have been the far cooler sounding 51st trumpet.. as is we are going to be behind Greenland, Iceland, Cuba and Mexico…

        • I mean I’ve been saying that fairly consitently since Brexit, Britain had the choice of being maybe not Primus, but certainly inter Pares in Europe, or being an American Appendix. We’ve been trying to walk a tightrope between two power blocks ever since then with the worst timing ever re Trump. (Granted I didn’t think we’d be in this position this quickly, I thought it would take 50+ years to end here).

          • Yep I think the British government thought the UK could be a bridge between the US and European side of the western alliance.. it turns out the western alliance seems to may have gone the way of the Soviet Union and just rapidly and we are no longer a bridge but a crack in a fractured hegemony.. just a few months ago Starmer said it was geopolitical madness to pick between the EU and USA as we are all on the same side.. but the madness has come in a president that seems to have lost his mind to power and a nation that is letting him….

            • Honestly the lack of education Americans have in this field is terrifying. I pointed out elsewhere that if hostilities broke out between the US and Europe that the US Army in Europe would be, to put it lightly, fucked, and would probably be defeated in detail and forced to surrender very quickly. Que Americans telling me how 80k Americans would conquer Europe on their own with no mutual support or logistics, how Europe would be unarmed in an instant if America stopped supplying us with weapons, how we had to focus on the real threat (muslims) not the US (the lack of self awareness is astounding), and why it’s so unfair that we don’t let America base troops in Greenland. They genuienly believe there are armies in Europe and that the US gives them arms out of the kindness of its heart.

              • “honestly the lack of education Americans have”

                I would just stop there, It adequately covers it pretty well.

                Trumps “War Plan Orange” anyone ?

              • Yes it’s true I’m have conversations with Americans on the far right of MAGA who truly believe that they have such power and if Europe does not capitulate to handing over Greenland and denied basing rights, that the US could use its forces in Europe and the USN to reduce and destroy the European militaries and essentially take control.. these nutters not only think it’s easy.. they want it to happen. It is the most bizarre time..

                The problem is I think all this madness puts the UK in a really really bad place.. we are no longer a core European power, our relationship with the US is going south quickly and due to our vocal support and condemnation of Russia ( rightfully) we are its enemy number one.. we are also on chinas shit list.. I’ve said for a year now NATO is on life support and the world is splitting into three power blocks ( US China and EU).. NATO is dying faster than I imagined ( I thought it had a few years)… we really have our ass hanging our geostrategically and we had better make a bet ( red or black ) on which power block we get behind and hope it’s the correct choice….

                • Jonathan, I am not seeing the imminent disintegration of NATO as you are. Trump has not talked of the US leaving NATO since seeing ENATO spending more on Defence. No US units have been withdrawn from Europe. US forces continue to participate in NATO exercises.in the Euro-Atlantic. American officers continue to hold key NATO positions, including but not limited to SACEUR. Trump continues to attend ‘leaders’ NATO conferences.
                  Trump’s periodic rants at certain NATO countries not spending enough on Defence have been accepted as being understandable and many countries have upped their game.
                  Certainly Trump’s position on Greenland is very troubling but is it bluster? Perhaps if he gets some sort of minerals deal with Denmark/Greenland he’ll wind down his ‘invasion plans’.
                  We in Europe have much to disagree with the US about including the Trump tarrifs but is that going to bring down NATO?
                  ENATO cannot afford for NATO to dissolve – I feel sure that NATO would continue if the US left (which I think is fairly unlikely), albeit with a great deal of military might lost to the Organisation, that would have to be filled in large part by a rapid move by Canada and ENATO to at least close to the long-term 3.5 + 1.5% spend target.

                  • I suppose it’s if you see what Trump says as bluster.. or if you take his threat seriously and he has just slapped punishing tariffs on the UK, France, Germany and Scandinavian countries for just questioning his bullying of Denmark.. as well as the fact the Denmark government were dragging to Washington for negotiations… if it was bluster there would be no negotiations and there would be no political/economic warfare… the fact that there is means this has gone well beyond the “bluster” to the real.. even if he does back down.. I don’t think NATO will get over this.. NATO only works as an alliance and deterrence if our enemies believe in it’s political unity.. military power is ultimately pointless without the body that wields showing political will and unity.

                  • Whether NATO continues or not, the US has *explicitly* pointed at Europe (including the UK) as an adversary in it’s NSS. And continuing to tie ourselves to an “ally” willing to extort us economically will, eventually, lead us to ruin. The US sees Europe as useful vassals who have little standing or authority on the world stage, but provide valuable trade. In a world where America and China face off, it will be in the US’s interests to extract as much from Europe as it can.

        • Don’t worry, we’d all be the 51st state. Except it can’t happen. Bring Canada and the UK as states into the US and MAGA would be dead forever. These would be the two most populous states in the Union. They’d (We’d) never again have a Republican majority in the House. It’s why Puerto Rico has never be given statehood: there’s no upside for the Republicans in bringing in more socially minded countries on an equal par with the current states.

          • America unfortunately already has a model for us in the shape of it’s Colonies. Forget being the 51st state, we’d get to join the 3.6million Americans who aren’t allowed to vote and become the 6th and 7th Territories

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