Four
headquarters designated
as NATO international headquarters
Four European headquarters have been officially designated as NATO international
rapidly deployable headquarters at a ceremony held on 23 September at
NATO's European strategic command (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.
NATO is currently in the process of reforming its force structure to
meet new security challenges and threats. A part of this process involves
creating rapidly deployable command elements, which can be quickly dispatched
to lead troops sent to a crisis area.
The designation of the four headquarters brings to five the number of
corps-size rapidly deployable headquarters assigned to NATO, the fifth
being the existing Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Force (ARRC).
Each headquarters can command up to 60,000 troops.
The four headquarters are: the Rapid Deployable German/Netherlands Corps
HQ in Münster, Germany; the Rapid Deployable Italian Corps HQ in
Milan, Italy; the Rapid Deployable Spanish Corps HQ Valencia, Spain; and
the Rapid Deployable Turkish Corps HQ in Istanbul, Turkey.
"European nations collectively have invested more than one billion
euros to develop these capabilities. The fact that nations are prepared
to put them under NATO command is a key element of our reform effort to
develop more relevant structures and capabilities for the Alliance,"
said General Joseph Ralston, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Additional information:
- SHAPE
Press Release:
Four New Multinational, Rapidly Deployable Headquarters Assigned To
NATO - 23 September 2002
- IMS
Fact Sheet: The New NATO Force Structure - September 2002
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