Brunssum, The Netherlands – General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, Commander Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (COM JFCBS), last week travelled to Hungary for a series of high-profile visits to NATO forces stationed in the country and Hungarian military representatives.
No nation can confront today’s challenges alone. Your presence demonstrates our commitment to security not just to Hungary, but throughout Europe.
His first visit was to the newly established Multinational Division Centre (MND-C). The initial operational capability (IOC) of HQ MND-C, granting the Division full authority to command NATO forces in Eastern Europe, has been accepted by the Supreme Commander Europe (SACEUR) on 06th February 2023. The declaration ceremony for the IOC is scheduled for 31st March 2023.
“Attainment of IOC visibly marks a significant milestone in the capabilities of this headquarters,” General Miglietta said, in an address to MND-C personnel. “The path was not without struggles or obstacles, however you have stood up and surmounted the challenges well to be able to reach this outstanding goal.”
NATO established the new tactical-level Headquarters in Székesfehérvár, Hungary in March 2020. Following Russia’s brutal escalation of its war in Ukraine in February 2022, its role is to command multinational troops up to Division strength (25,000 soldiers) based in Hungary and Slovakia.
The next stop on the visit was to NATO’s Multinational Battlegroup Hungary, one of the new defensive formations established to defend the Alliance’s Eastern flank. Formed of around 1,000 troops from host nation Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Türkiye and the United States of America, this coalition of highly trained and well equipped men and women is a visible demonstration of NATO’s commitment to Eastern Europe.
“You must be mindful of the relevance of your mission here, and its importance to NATO and the defence of our Allies,” said General Miglietta, to a gathered group from Multinational Battlegroup Hungary. “No nation can confront today’s challenges alone. Your presence demonstrates our commitment to security not just to Hungary, but throughout Europe.”
General Miglietta concluded his visit by meeting with Lt. Gen. Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, the Commander of Hungarian Defence Forces, before returning to JFC Brunssum.
