Newsletters
NATO’s Allied Command Operations will update its provisional regional boundaries to enhance the Alliance’s military posture across the Euro-Atlantic area, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) announced Thursday.
The adjustment transfers responsibility for Denmark, Sweden and Finland from Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum to Joint Force Command Norfolk, NATO’s newest operational command.
At a press briefing, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich said the shift aims to reinforce NATO’s posture in the High North as adversaries align across regions.
He described JFC Norfolk as a strategic bridge between North America and Europe, adding that its area of responsibility will now cover Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, in addition to the Atlantic.
Responding to a question on NATO-EU cooperation, Grynkewich said the Alliance seeks alignment with the EU and aims to combine its strengths effectively.
He also praised Türkiye as a “tremendously important ally” with “tremendously capable armed forces,” noting that several top NATO leaders come from Türkiye.
Grynkewich said recent hybrid attacks in Europe are expected to continue, stating that Russia is behind some of the activity.
He noted that the attacks do not pose an existential threat to the Alliance and are not undermining NATO’s unity.
The commander emphasized that NATO intends to be more proactive while maintaining its defensive posture.
Asked whether Russia might test Article Five of the NATO Treaty, Grynkewich said, “I think they’re testing us every day.”
He identified close coordination among adversaries as the main risk, citing China’s financing of Russia’s war in Ukraine, North Korea’s supply of troops and equipment, and Iran’s provision of equipment and technology transfers.
NATO operates three Joint Force Commands—Naples, Brunssum, and Norfolk—under SHAPE to plan, manage and coordinate military operations, each overseeing its own region.
2 min read
