European Allies to Take on Key Leadership Roles in NATO

European allies are to play a more prominent role in NATO's military leadership. 

This is revealed in a press release.

NATO allies agreed last week on a new distribution of senior officer responsibilities across the NATO Command Structure, under which European allies will take on new leadership roles. 

Changes to JFC Norfolk 

Among the changes is that the United Kingdom will take over command of Joint Force Command Norfolk, which is currently led by the United States.

JFC Norfolk is located in the state of Virginia in the United States and is the Alliance's newest joint force command. 

In December, all of the Nordic countries were officially placed under the responsibility of this High North-focused command.  Its area of responsibility now includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, in addition to the Atlantic.

Gradual implementation

Moreover, Italy will take over command of Joint Force Command Naples, which has also been led by the US. 

Germany and Poland will share command of Joint Force Command Brunssum on a rotating basis. 

As a result, all three Joint Force Commands (four-star commands), that lead at the operational level in crises and conflicts, will be led by Europeans, the press release notes. 

The United States will lead all three theatre component commands. The country recently assumed leadership of Allied Maritime Command and will maintain leadership of Allied Land Command and Allied Air Command.

The changes will be implemented incrementally over the coming years, in line with the existing scheduled rotation of personnel. 

The agreement is part of a shift to more fairly share responsibility within NATO, with European allies taking on greater leadership roles in NATO's Command Structure, while also making clear the US commitment to NATO command and control, including in maintaining the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), the press release states.