Representatives of NATO member states have reached an agreement on a new distribution of leadership duties in the alliance's structures, in which European allies will play a more prominent role in the future and take over military command from the United States, NATO announced.
The United Kingdom will take over Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk) in Virginia, and Italy will take over Joint Force Command Naples, both currently under US command.
The Allied Command Headquarters in Brunssum, Netherlands, will be led by Germany and Poland on a rotating basis. As a result, all three commands, which are operationally responsible for crises or conflicts, will be under European command, NATO announced.
At the same time, the US will take command of all three central commands of the Western alliance, namely Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) in Ramstein, Germany, Land Command (LANDCOM) in Izmir, Turkey, and Maritime Command (MARCOM) in Northwood, Great Britain.
The statement states that these changes will be implemented gradually in the coming years, in accordance with existing staff replacement deadlines.
"The agreement is part of changes aimed at more equitable sharing of responsibilities in NATO, with European allies taking on more important leadership positions in NATO's command structure, while reaffirming the US commitment to NATO command and control, including retaining the position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)," the statement reads.
The command in Norfolk, Virginia, is headquartered at NATO's largest naval base and is responsible for the Atlantic and the Arctic, and primarily for securing strategic transatlantic sea lanes and communications.
The Brunssum command is responsible for operations on the northern and eastern flanks of the alliance, while JFC Naples is focused on NATO's southern flank, including the Balkans.
NATO defense ministers will meet in Brussels tomorrow. The main topics of discussion will be defense investments and continued support for Ukraine, but the ministers will also exchange views on the implementation of all NATO-led missions and activities, including KFOR, the alliance's longest-running and currently largest mission.
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