AFCENT

AFCENT, short for Allied Forces Central Europe, was established in August 1953 as a key NATO military headquarters responsible for the defense of Central Europe during the Cold War. Initially located in Fontainebleau, France, the headquarters was moved to Brunssum, the Netherlands, in 1967 following France’s withdrawal from NATO’s integrated military command. AFCENT coordinated multinational land and air forces from member nations, playing a crucial role in the planning and execution of collective defense strategies. In 2000, AFCENT was redesignated as Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, reflecting NATO’s shift to a more flexible, joint operational structure.