Brunssum, 20 June 2024-The deputy mayor and council of Beek paid a visit to the NATO headquarters of ‘Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum’ (JFCBS) on Wednesday evening, 19th June.
To me I think that it is really important that local population and civilians understand what there is inside the fence of this NATO Headquarters
The commander of JFCBS, General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, warmly welcomed deputy mayor Marcel Meurkens, and the members of the municipal council. During his welcome speech, General Miglietta expressed the importance that the local community understands what happens at JFCBS. “Mr Meurkens, deputy Mayor, I am glad that you on behalf of Mayor Van Basten brought your team with you to Camp Hendrik here today. To me I think that it is really important that local population and civilians understand what there is inside the fence of this NATO Headquarters. We as NATO organization are keen on transparency, and therefore a good relationship with surrounding municipalities. You as the municipality of Beek are one of them.” said the General.
Meurkens emphasised the importance of the presence of the NATO headquarters for the region. “It was an honour to visit the headquarters of Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum together with the municipal council of Beek. We learned a lot about how Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum protects and defends our shared values in times of significant geopolitical changes. In an era where division is growing and democracy and freedom are no longer always a given, even on the European continent, it is reassuring to know that there are men and women who tirelessly work for our safety and peace. For that, we are grateful, and it strengthens our awareness that we also have a great responsibility at the local level,” he said.
The guests received several presentations about JFCBS, future plans, and the positive economic impact the base has on the region, including Beek.
The establishment of the NATO headquarters in Brunssum in 1967 was one of the measures taken by the Dutch government to mitigate the effects of the mine closures. JFCBS is one of the three NATO headquarters jointly responsible for the protection and defence of NATO territory. JFCBS is a ‘warfighting’ headquarters at the operational level, responsible for Central and Northeast Europe, including NATO's eastern flank from Finland to Hungary.