AFSOUTH

AFSOUTH, or Allied Forces Southern Europe, was a major NATO military command established in 1951 with its headquarters in Naples, Italy. Its primary mission was to coordinate the defense of southern Europe, overseeing land, air, and naval forces in Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the Mediterranean region during the Cold War. AFSOUTH played a key role in deterring Soviet aggression and fostering cooperation among southern European NATO members. In 2004, following a NATO command restructuring, AFSOUTH was replaced by Joint Force Command Naples, continuing its legacy of collective defense and crisis management.