Brunssum, The Netherlands – On 10 October 2024, Allied Joint Forces Command Brunssum (JFCBS) conducted a high-level rehearsal in preparation for exercise BRILLIANT BONUS 2024 (BRBO24), which will take place in late autumn this year and is designed to reinforce NATO's commitment to deterrence and defence across its area of responsibility.
By rehearsing complex operations, we ensure our forces remain ready to deter any threat and defend our Alliance's territory
Led by General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta, Commander of JFCBS, the exercise brought together key leaders from NATO Operational Headquarters and Component Commands as well as National Joint Operational Commands within the Brunssum area of responsibility.
This crucial element of strategic military planning enabled a detailed review of the relevant regional plans, the most comprehensive defence plans since the end of the Cold War, which were agreed at the Vilnius Summit in 2023. The aim of the current rehearsal was to identify risks, opportunities and possible adjustments to improve the coherence of NATO's defence efforts.
With a focus on synchronizing multinational forces in multi-domain operations, participants engaged in comprehensive discussions on transitioning between crisis and conflict phases, logistics sustainment, and the coordination of sea control in the Baltic region.
General Miglietta emphasized the strategic importance of the event, stating, "This exercise reinforces our collective ability to respond to crises with agility and cohesion. By rehearsing complex operations, we ensure our forces remain ready to deter any threat and defend our Alliance's territory."
The drill unfolded through three key vignettes, each designed to test and refine various operational phases. The first explored the initial transition from crisis to conflict, while the second vignette focused on the establishment of sea control in the Baltic Sea post Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2AD) degradation. The final phase examined logistics sustainment plans, crucial for supporting NATO and national forces in the Baltic States, as well as coordination across broader regions like Northern Europe and Southeast Europe.
Major General Stephan Fix, JFCBS Deputy Chief of Staff Support, highlighted the day’s logistical discussions: "We also used the day to discuss the rules and responsibilities for the sustainment of NATO forces. This created a better understanding of our critical logistic capabilities and capacities and set the conditions to be prepared for any situation in peacetime."
The rehearsal, in preparation for a major revision of the Regional Plans in 2025, was a vital opportunity to assess operational details and enhance the Alliance’s defensive posture. Through this exercise, NATO ensures that its command and coordination mechanisms are optimized, and its forces are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to any threat, reinforcing the security of the Alliance’s soil.