SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWERS EUROPE

The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) was established on April 2, 1951, as the central command of NATO’s Allied Command Operations. Its original purpose was to provide unified military command and planning for the defense of Western Europe against potential Soviet aggression during the Cold War. SHAPE was initially located in Rocquencourt, France, but relocated to Casteau, near Mons, Belgium, in 1967 after France withdrew from NATO’s integrated military structure. Today, SHAPE continues to serve as the primary headquarters for NATO’s military operations, coordinating multinational forces to address evolving security challenges in the Euro-Atlantic region.