NATO defence ministers have approved plans to form two new alliance commands, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said today in Brussels.
The secretary general spoke at a news conference at the end of the first day of the NATO defence ministerial.
The ministers approved plans to modernise the NATO command structure. The alliance command structure allows the 29 member nations to operate in sync and perform missions and operations as an alliance.
“At the end of the Cold War, NATO had 22,000 staff working in 33 commands,” Stoltenberg said. “Today, the command structure is reduced to fewer than 7,000 staff in seven commands.”
The threat emanating from Russia, out-of-area operations and concerns about the alliance’s southern flank mean NATO must respond, the secretary general said. The changes will place greater focus on maritime security; logistics and military mobility; and cyber defence.
“We will establish a new joint force command for the Atlantic, to help protect sea lines of communication between North America and Europe,” Stoltenberg said.
“We will establish a new support command for logistics, reinforcement and military mobility — improving the movement of troops and equipment is essential to our collective deterrence and defence.”
14 Feb. 2018 Defence Ministers Meetings – Brussels, 14-15 February 2018.
The alliance will designate some additional land component commands in Europe. “We will also set up a new cyber operations centre at our military headquarters … to further strengthen our defences,” the secretary general said.
The next move is for defence ministers to decide on the timelines, locations and staffing for the headquarters. Stoltenberg expects those decisions in June.
What a lovely bunch,off what?
I read on another article that the US was the top pick for the Atlantic command, which is a bit of a slap in the face considering the UK already hosts the NATO Maritime command. Germany is guaranteed to get the logistics command.
Gee, what’s the size of the Royal Navy and what’s the size of the US Navy? The only thing the UK has more of is Admirals who have never commanded a ship.
SACLANT already exists. What in earth are they talking about. How to spend more money? The UK Command centre is a subset of Atlantic Command.
A phenomenon. When forces are in decline the headquarters expand.
NATO maritime component command is already at Northwood with several other multi national and national commands so Northwood should host this.
What is NATO stand for Not All Territory Organized What it means Bunch of Fucking AMERICAN tail dog leading by WOLF not dog. What is Democracy It Means Use of Fucking American Style to Kill innocent people in country not following the Fucking Failure Foreign Policy of the Fucking Underwater States of Atlantic (USA) What is Freedom It means Use of the Fucking Yankee style to block all country by means of Sanction and Embargo to comply with the Fucking American Freedom of overturn a country when it not form by the Fucking American system What is Human Right It… Read more »
An amazing command of the English language you have J B and used to such effect when putting together a really cogent dialogue for discussion.
U K D J.Do we really need this garbage?
Umm more lovely non – jobs for the Ruperts while the people who actually defend us are facing cuts. Well can anyone honestly say they’re surprised !