Stuttgart (dpa/MIA) - General Christopher G Cavoli is the new commander of the US forces in Europe. He will take over US European Command (EUCOM) from General Tod Wolters, who is retiring. Cavoli was presented at a festive ceremony in Suttgart, Germany, and in the presence of US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. Cavoli is the 19th commander in EUCOM history. Wolters had held the position since May 2019. Austin praised the new commander as "the right leader at the right time." Fluent in Russian, Italian and French, Cavoli was exceptionally well-prepared after his long military training to further strengthen NATO's position on the Eastern European flank, he said. Cavoli thanked Wolters for his leadership and said he'll build on the Wolter’s legacy. With around 64,000 soldiers, EUCOM is responsible for US operations in Europe, parts of Asia and Africa, the Middle East and the Atlantic.