NATO's new streamlined command structure

BRUSSELS (AFP) Jun 12, 2003
NATO agreed Thursday to the most sweeping changes to the Alliance's command structure since the end of the Cold War, cutting the number of command centres by nearly half, from 20 to 11.

Here are the key points:

STRATEGIC COMMAND

The number of top level, strategic command centres will be cut from two to one.

The current system has two stategic command centres, one in Europe - Allied Command Europe based in Mons, Belgium - and Allied Command Atlantic, based in Norfolk, Virginia.

Under the new system the Belgium-based Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), US General James Jones, will take over global operational command of NATO missions. A new command, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), will be created based in Norfolk Virginia, tasked with "overseeing and continuing transformation of Alliance forces and capabilities." This will be headed by US Admiral Edmund Giambastiani.

SECOND LEVEL OF COMMAND

The current five regional command centres have been cut to two -- one in Brunssum, the Netherlands, the other in Naples, Italy. There will also be a smaller centre in Lisbon, Portugal.

THIRD LEVEL OF COMMAND

The operational command will include six Joint Force Component Commands in Ramstein, Germany; Northwood in Britain; Heidelberg, Germany; Izmir, Turkey; Naples, Italy and Madrid, Spain. In addition there will be four Combined Air Operations Centres in Uedem, Germany; Finderup, Denmark; Poggio Renatico, Italy and Larissa, Greece.

In addition new training centre will be set up in Bydgoszcz, Poland, while a NATO base in Stavanger, Norway, will be turned into a Joint Warfare Centre.

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