SACEUR visits STRIKFORNATO

NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), Gen. Tod D. Wolters, met with Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO's (STRIKFORNATO) and staff at their headquarters, in Lisbon, Portugal, Dec. 5.

Wolters and the STRIKFORNATO command group discussed its unique capabilities and roles within the NATO Alliance and STRIKFORNATO's recent certification as a NATO Expanded Task Force Commander during exercise TRIDENT JUPITER.

"It was an honor to host Gen. Wolters at our headquarters as he recognized our personnel for their hard work and effort during Trident Jupiter. Our certification as a NATO Expanded Task Force demonstrates STRIKFORNATO's critical role in supporting NATO's mission to be the guarantor of European security," said Franchetti. "STRIKFORNATO stands ready to respond in support of NATO and the alliance to address emergent threats and deter potential adversaries."

Wolters is one of the two strategic commanders for NATO and the commander of Allied Command Operations (ACO). SACEUR is responsible to NATO's Military Committee, the highest military authority in NATO, for the overall direction and conduct of military operations for NATO.

STRIKFORNATO is a rapidly deployable and scalable headquarters capable of planning and executing full spectrum joint maritime operations and providing command and control of maritime Ballistic Missile Defence. As part of this mission, STRIKFORNATO is responsible for the integration of U.S. naval, carrier, and amphibious forces into NATO operations to provide assurance, deterrence, and collective defence for the Alliance. STRIKFORNATO is comprised of 12 member nations: France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the U.K. and U.S.