HQ AFNORTH

Headquarters Allied Forces North (HQ AFNORTH) has its origins in the early years of NATO, established in 1952 as Allied Forces Northern Europe to coordinate the defense of Northern Europe during the Cold War. Initially headquartered in Kolsås, Norway, its mission was to command land, air, and naval forces in Scandinavia and the northern flank of NATO in the event of conflict with the Warsaw Pact. Following the end of the Cold War and a series of NATO restructurings, AFNORTH relocated to Brunssum, the Netherlands, in 2004 and became known as Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFC Brunssum). Today, it plays a crucial role in NATO’s collective defense, overseeing operations and readiness for the northern region of the Alliance.