U.S. to nominate new NATO commander

Hagel made the announcement during a press briefing at the Pentagon, saying Obama is nominating Breedlove, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, "to serve as the new commander of our European Command, Supreme Allied Command."

Obama initially nominated Allen, who most recently commanded U. S. forces in Afghanistan, to the NATO job. His nomination had been placed on hold amid a Pentagon investigation into his emails exchanges with a women related to former CIA Director David Petraeus's extramarital affair until Allen was cleared of misconduct. Allen told Obama last month he has decided to retire, Xinhua reports.

If confirmed by Congress, Breedlove is to succeed Admiral James Stavridis in the NATO job. The North Atlantic Council, the political governing body of NATO, has already approved the appointment, according to the Pentagon.