Nato’s Multinational Corps North-East in Szczecin, Poland, has achieved full operational capability (FOC) after undergoing a tactical test and operational capability assessment.

The Szczecin Multinational Corps North-East has now become a Nato High Readiness Corps Headquarters (HQs).

The new force will conduct C-2 activities on Allied units taking part in Exercise Saber Strike 17, including the three new Battle Groups under US and UK lead, the Italian Ministry of Defence stated.

The 4th Battle Group will be officially established in Latvia on 19 June.

More personnel and equipment were assigned to Multinational Corps North-East after the Warsaw and Wales Nato summits.

"The Corps can conduct humanitarian and rescue missions, including natural disaster relief missions."

The Multinational Corps North-East operates under the operational command of JFC Brunssum, and is authorised to conduct training and readiness activities for the newly-established enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), with three Battle Groups deployed in the Baltics and one in Poland.

It is responsible for planning and operating collective defence purposes under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

The Corps can conduct humanitarian and rescue missions, including natural disaster relief missions.

It can also carry out multinational crisis management and peace support operations as a Land Component Command in a Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) context or a Force Command.

Image: The Szczecin Multinational Corps North-East has now become one of Nato High Readiness Corps Headquarters. Photo: courtesy of the Italian Ministry of Defence.