Claude Robinet Assumes Position as Chief of Staff of Luxembourg Army

On Monday 28 September 2026, Luxembourg’s Minister of Defence Yuriko Backes presided over the official ceremony marking the handover of the position of Chief of Staff of the Army, held in the municipal park of Mersch. After six years at the helm of the Luxembourg Army, General Steve Thull officially handed over to General Claude Robinet.

Numerous senior political and military officials attended the ceremony, including the President of the Chamber of Deputies, the Ministers for Home Affairs and the Civil Service, numerous members of parliament, the President of the Council of State, as well as the chiefs of staff of the German, Belgian, French, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Romanian armed forces.

Appointed Chief of Staff on 29 September 2020, General Thull led the Army during a period of heightened geopolitical tensions, marked by significant developments in the areas of military capabilities, personnel, infrastructure and international cooperation. While continuing projects initiated in previous years, he worked to modernise and transform the Army.

During the ceremony, Minister Backes praised General Thull’s exemplary commitment and unwavering dedication to the Luxembourg Army and highlighted General Thull’s exceptional commitment throughout his career: “My General, you are a man who does not hesitate to assume his responsibilities and who never shies away from any task. Reliability is not only an essential quality in you; it has also always been a priority for the Army under your responsibility. Luxembourg expresses its profound gratitude to you for your four decades of service in the Army and in the service of the nation.”

During the “Receiving Line”, General Thull was awarded the Award of Merit medal by Lieutenant General Kaspars Pudāns, Chief of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, as well as the Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal of Merit by General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Chief of Defence of Lithuania.

A career dedicated to serving the nation

General Thull completed his officer training at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels from 1987 to 1991.

During his career, he held various command and staff positions. Before being appointed Chief of Staff of the Army, he was head of the Army’s Information and Communication Systems Department. General Thull participated in NATO’s IFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union’s EUFOR mission in Chad and the Central African Republic.

General Thull placed great emphasis on the Army’s operational readiness, considering it the only credible means of ensuring that Luxembourg remains a committed and reliable military partner within international organisations with a military dimension.

As he left office, General Thull wished to thank all members of the Army for their commitment to maintaining a credible Luxembourg defence capability. He highlighted their professionalism and availability, as well as the importance of collective effort in carrying out the missions entrusted to the Army.

“After all these years dedicated to serving the Army and the country, I leave my position with the satisfaction of a duty fulfilled, but above all with a profound sense of gratitude towards all those with whom I have had the honour of serving. I have had the privilege of accompanying the Luxembourg Army through a period of significant transformation and development. Above all, I will remember from these years the strength of teamwork, the commitment and professionalism of our women and men, as well as the many moments we shared both in Luxembourg and during our deployments abroad. I remain convinced that those serving in the Army will continue to uphold, with commitment and determination, the values upon which it is founded,”concluded General Thull.

The Luxembourg Army expressed its profound gratitude to him for his tireless commitment throughout the many years he dedicated to serving the Nation.

General Claude Robinet, the new Chief of Staff

The ceremony also marked General Claude Robinet’s assumption of office as the new Chief of Staff of the Army. It is now his responsibility to continue the transformation of the Luxembourg Army and address future challenges, building on the efforts undertaken in recent years while taking into account developments in the geopolitical situation, emerging technologies and changes in our society.

His commitment, sense of duty and dedication to the personnel under his command are fully aligned with the values of integrity, commitment and reliability that underpin the military institution.

With General Robinet taking office, a new chapter begins for the Luxembourg Army, characterised by continuity, trust and fidelity to the values that underpin the commitment of those who serve the country.

“It is with great pride and a profound sense of responsibility that I assume my duties today as Chief of Staff of the Luxembourg Army. Aware of the importance of the mission entrusted to me, I am determined to continue the work already undertaken in order to prepare the Army to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. I know that I can rely on the commitment, professionalism and diversity of our women and men, who constitute the true strength of our institution. Our ambition is clear: an Army that is diverse and draws its strength from every talent, every background and every voice. An Army that is operational, ready, capable and determined to respond to every commitment. An Army that is diverse in its personnel, operational in its mission, founded on integrity and oriented towards the technologies of tomorrow,” explained General Robinet.