Nieuws
Atlantisch Perspectief features prominently during NATO-ceremony in Germany
NATO’s Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) declared Fully Operational Capable
The Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC), one of NATO’s new headquarters, was declared Fully Operational Capable (FOC) in Ulm, Germany. The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Tod Wolters, presented the JSEC flag to Lieutenant-general Jürgen Knappe, JSEC’s commander, symbolising the achievements and operational readiness of the headquarters. The ceremony, held on September 8, 2021, was attended by more than one hundred guests, including several Chiefs of Defence of Allied and partner nations.
Enablement was a central theme at the event, and copies of the Atlantisch Perspectief special issue ‘NATO Enablement: moving forward’ were given to all the guests. The special issue is well-timed and the articles offer a valuable contribution to the discussion on how NATO can improve Enablement. As explained by NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in his foreword, the essence of NATO’s enablement work is encapsulated by one of the decisions noted in the 2021 Summit Communiqué: “…to improve our ability to support the deployment and sustainment of Allied forces into, across and from the entire Alliance territory”.
The issue covers Enablement from various perspectives. Pete Williams discusses the framework conditions for NATO to deter enemies. Julian Lindley-French delicately points out that enablement shouldn’t be seen by some Allies as an alternative to fighting. Ben Hodges and Carsten Schmiedl discuss the role and position of the US in the enablement process as the US is clearly Pivoting to Asia.
Raoul Bessems discusses the important role of the Netherlands as a transit port for troops from ‘over sea’. In their contribution, Andrew Lewis and Snorri Matthíasson take a closer look at the Transatlantic Bridge as the core of NATO’s deterrence starting strategy.
Two articles focus specifically on JSEC. The article `JSEC: NATO’s New Reinforcement Command´, written by the Commander and his Political Advisor, Sergei Boeke, covers the path of the headquarters to FOC, and the main missions it will fulfill. A second article focuses on the new concept of Strategic Force Hubs, and was written by German Army Colonel Klaus Nebe and Polish Air Force Colonel Pawel Kwarto.
Click here for more information on the special issue of Atlantisch Perspectief and read a selection of articles for free.
Photo:
From left to right
Lieutenant General Brice Houdet, Vice Chief of Staff at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Vice Admiral Boudewijn Boots, Vice Chief of Defense of the Netherlands, and Lieutenant General Jürgen Knappe, the Commander of JSEC.