NATO’s new Atlantic Command was declared operational in a ceremony in Norfolk, Virginia on Thursday.

Joint Force Command Norfolk, established to protect sea lanes between Europe and North America, is the first NATO headquarters dedicated to the Atlantic since 2003.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the milestone, he was quoted as saying:

“NATO is a transatlantic Alliance and the North Atlantic is vital for the security of Europe. Our new Atlantic Command will ensure crucial routes for reinforcements and supplies from North America to Europe remain secure.”

Royal Navy Rear Adm. A. Betton, Deputy Commander, JFCNF, (left) and U.S. Vice Adm. A. Lewis, Commander, JFCNF at JFCNF’s Initial Operational Capability ceremony at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads, Virginia – Photo Petty Off. 1st Cl. Th. Green

Co-located with the US Second Fleet, the Atlantic Command is led by US Vice Admiral Andrew Lewis. It will provide “coherent command arrangements for Allied forces, maintain situational awareness, conduct exercises, and draw up operational plans covering vast geographic areas, from the US East Coast, past the Greenland-Iceland-U.K. gap and into the Arctic”, say the Alliance.

Day-to-day NATO maritime operations will continue to be run out of Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) in the United Kingdom.

NATO Defence Ministers decided in June 2018 to adapt the Alliance’s command structure with a new Atlantic command in Norfolk, and a command for support and logistics in Ulm, Germany. Joint Force Command Norfolk joins NATO’s two existing Joint Forces Commands, located in Brunssum, Netherlands, and Naples, Italy.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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dave12
dave12
3 years ago

Visit Sunday service much?

David Barry
David Barry
3 years ago
Reply to  dave12

@dave12 With you, but, I do think WW3 is coming as well; not sure it will end well.

dave12
dave12
3 years ago
Reply to  David Barry

That will only happen if Putin or Chinas leadership feel desperate

Gunbuster
Gunbuster
3 years ago

So… basically if you are not one of the 3 Abrahamic faiths or you are atheist and dont do god then all is good and you have nothing to worry about…

Which is nice…

barry white
barry white
3 years ago

Why have there got to be name changes all the time
I remember the same thing in the 70s/80s and it was called STANAVFORLANT
So what we have here is basically the same thing

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
3 years ago
Reply to  barry white

Tell me about it. It’s not just the HQ’s either, lots of other MoD organisations and units change name all the time. It’s very irritating and hard to keep a track of!!