He will replace US General John Craddock as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), said a statement from the Defence Planning Committee of the world's biggest military alliance.

'The committee agreed with great regret to release General Craddock from his assignment as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe,' the statement said.

'They expressed to General Craddock, in the name of the Nato governments, lasting gratitude for his distinguished service.'

Adm Stavridis was commander of United States Southern Command, based in Florida in the United States. Like Gen Craddock, he will now also serve as commander of US forces in Europe.

The announcement came after US Defense Secretary Robert Gates sacked the top commander in Afghanistan as Washington implements a new strategy to accelerate a seven-year-old war that has struggled to halt a widening Taleban insurgency.

Nato is leading a force of 58,000 troops from around 40 nations in Afghanistan, with the aim of spreading the influence of the weak central government and foster reconstruction. Mr Gates had recommended in March that Adm Stavridis be named SACEUR; a post exclusively allocated to US officers and whose headquarters is in Mons, Belgium.

Gen Craddock came under fire in February after telling commanders that he wanted troops in the NATO-led security force 'to attack directly drug producers and facilities throughout Afghanistan.' His 'guidance' - a first step before issuing orders - for handling such people was leaked to German news magazine Der Spiegel, and sparked an internal security probe at Nato.

The final orders were vastly toned down from his 'guidance'.

A blogging, book-writing US Navy officer who talks about casting aside Cold War assumptions, Adm Stavridis, 54, speaks French and Spanish and has a doctorate. His diplomatic skills could be put to the test in Brussels, where he will have to manage the competing demands of 28 member states in an alliance where decisions are taken by consensus. -- AFP