In its biggest organisational change since the end of the Cold War, NATO is cutting the number of its command centres by nearly half, from 20 to 11.

Robertson, accompanied by ambassadors from the 19 NATO member states, was on Wednesday to participate in a ceremony establishing the new Allied Command Transformation (ACT) at Norfolk, Virginia.

The ACT is to focus on training and other efforts to transform NATO into a force capable of deploying rapidly to intervene in far-flung crises beyond its traditional theatre in Europe.

The centerpiece of the transformation effort will be a 20,000-strong NATO Response Force ready to deploy within days.

Wednesday's ceremony will also see Admiral Edmund Giambastiani take command as NATO's first Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.

WAR.WIRE