As tensions in the Middle East escalate, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has increasingly turned to one person, General Erik Kurilla, the four-star commander of US Central Command, as per reports. Known by the nickname “The Gorilla”, Kurilla has quietly become one of the most influential figures in the Trump administration’s national security circle, as per Daily Beast.Erik Kurilla’s Influence Grows Amid Middle East TensionsAccording to Politico, Kurilla now holds “an outsize role” in shaping US military decisions in the region, largely due to the internal instability within Hegseth’s Department of Defense. Kurilla has a major influence over the Middle East, as he is the general in charge of CENTCOM (Central Command), which organises US forces in the Middle East from Egypt in the west to Afghanistan in the east, as per Daily Beast.
An ex-official told Politico that Kurilla has “got the look of the general that both Hegseth and Trump are looking for,” adding, “He’s a big dude, he’s jacked, he’s exactly this ‘lethality’ look they’re going for,” quoted Daily Beast.
While, another former military official told Politico that Kurilla “has been very good at getting what he wants” out of Hegseth, adding that, “If the senior military guys come across as tough and warfighters, Hegseth is easily persuaded to their point of view,” as quoted in the report.

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CENTCOM’s Wide Reach in the RegionAccording to Politico, “The Gorilla” also has been hawkish in urging the US to increase its assets in the region, pushing back against more cautious advice to Hegseth and Trump from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Raisin’” Caine and Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby. Under Kurilla’s command, CENTCOM has included more fighters and, in the last 48 hours, moving air-to-air refuelling tankers and an aircraft carrier battle group, as per the report. Polticio’s source said, “CENTCOM is trying to grab every asset they can from every other theater,” adding, “That’s what CENTCOM always does,” quoted Daily Beast.Pushback from the PentagonHowever, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed Politico’s allegation that Hegseth was taking orders from Kurilla, reported Daily Beast. Parnell said, “Secretary Hegseth empowers all of his combatant commanders the same way, by decentralizing command and harnessing their real-world expertise,” adding, “Our senior leaders are in lockstep and will continue to work in unison to deliver on President Trump‘s national security agenda,” quoted Daily Beast.DOD Clarifies Decision-Making StructureWhile, the Department of Defense said in a statement that, “The entire DOD leadership team—from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy—similarly provide courses of action and counsel to the Secretary based on their expertise,” as quoted in the report. The statement also mentioned that, “The Secretary then makes a decision and final recommendation to the President. This is how the Pentagon does, and should, function,” quoted Daily Beast.FAQsWho is General Erik Kurilla?
He’s the four-star general in charge of US Central Command (CENTCOM), overseeing military operations in the Middle East, as per reports.

Why does Kurilla have so much influence now?
According to reports, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth relies heavily on Kurilla, especially amid instability inside the Pentagon.